week 33: things that make you go 'mmm'
this week on the little dream farm
In the last few years I’ve discovered that I’m always chasing the things in life that make me go, “Mmm.”
Things that make me close my eyes and tip my head back.
Things that make my shoulders lift towards my ears.
Things that send goosebumps down my body.
Things that make me take a big deep breath in and let out a good long sigh.
Things that make me laugh til’ the tears of joy stream down my face.
Things that feel like they connect with my soul.
Things that are just so incredibly beautiful or wonderful that it’s hard to believe they’re real.
So this week I want to share with you a bunch of those things…the things that make me go, “Mmm.”
Before we do that I want to tell you about my absolute favorite protein powder.
Too many protein powders on the market have really crappy ingredients. That’s why we’ve chosen a brand that has all-natural protein powder made with five different protein sources and flavored without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. It’s made with 100% grass-fed whey.
It is essential that we get adequate protein (the recommended amount is 0.8g/kg or 0.36g/lb) and in a decade of coaching clients in nutrition and fitness all around the globe, this is the one place where so many of my clients fall short. It’s critical when we’re young and growing but far more important as we age in order to support a healthy appetite and satiety, ensure muscle maintenance and retention, and aid in physical function.
Every morning Chris and I each make ourselves a protein shake. Chris tends to like to add fruit and veggies to his shakes but I prefer to keep mine really simple—just one heaping scoop of protein with a big handful of ice, about 3/4 cup of whole milk, and about 3/4 cup of water. I blend this up in this super handy blender and off I go—22 grams of protein (and about another 5 grams with the whole milk) right off the bat first thing in the morning.
These are our favorite flavors:
Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter (this is Chris’ fave!)
Strawberries n’ Cream (this is my fave!)
Mint Chocolate (we both love this one!)
Be sure to let me know what you think once you order them and make your shakes—we think you’ll LOVE these flavors like we do!)
And now onto the Farm Note!
Dinner Date
This week I was in Georgia for work and had the chance to spend a few hours in Atlanta to meet with some of our followers who live there. I sent a call-out via IG Stories and asked if anyone would like to meet up for dinner. Four ladies were able to make it and we picked a place north of downtown to gather for dinner and spend the time getting to know each other and enjoying a fabulous meal together.
Never did I once think when we started our cat IG account back in 2018 or our farm IG account in 2021 that one day I’d get to meet some of our followers in person like this. It was a dream I didn’t know I had. It was far more fun than I’d even imagined. And now I’m hoping to do this each time I travel to different places for work if I can make the timing work! Next up is DC in September so be sure to let me know if you’d like to come! Email me at bergsteinsarah@gmail.com and I’ll get that set up closer to my travel dates.
Reflecting on this amazing experience for sure makes me go, Mmmmm!
A photo of the five of us from dinner:
TED Talk
One of the commanders I work with in my current Air Force role is a huge personal development junkie like me. This week while I was attending a conference in middle Georgia, he showed this TED Talk to our group and my immediate thought was that I wanted to share it with you…that I thought you might enjoy it and see value in it and probably tear up just like I did in uniform in front of all my coworkers.
Everyday Leadership by Drew Dudley:
Movie
I’ve been dying to see the movie One Life starring Anthony Hopkins for the last few months. I actually had no idea what it was about and never bothered to even look it up…I just knew the title sounded appealing and I’ll watch anything with Hopkins in it.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the movie available on my Delta flight home from Georgia and sat in my aisle seat and unashamedly sobbed through the latter scenes of the movie.
I’m not going to say anything more about it. I’ll leave the trailer for you here and I strongly urge you to take the time to rent it online and watch it. It’s one of those stories that inspires you to want to find ways to do more good in your own life.
One Life starring Anthony Hopkins:
Little Thing
This time of year as the morning’s get cooler, the fog lifts from the ground as the sun’s rays highlight all the moisture in the air. It makes for the most phenomenal sunrises here on the farm.
I’m obsessed with the way the light shines into the house in the morning and floods the living room, dining area, and kitchen in its warm glow. Lately, I’ve made a point to take photos of these moments in an effort to somehow try and capture the memory and the feeling…but more so I’m just reminding myself to be present for it.
A few of those images from the last few weeks:
Insta Inspiration
I don’t know how you spend your time on Instagram, but I think I’ve trained my feed to be filled with singers, artists, creatives, and animals—things that fill me up!
I am constantly inspired by the heart and grit and grace of the human spirit and I want to share with you one of my favorite cinematographers, Philip Thurston, who pairs his incredible videos and photos of the ocean’s majesty with The Word, with his own words, with thoughts and ideas and words of encouragement that are sure to have you spending the next hour soaking up his creativity and how he expresses his gifts with the world.
This is just one of thousands of his photos and videos and happens to be on the topic of purpose. Give him a follow and enjoy how he’ll move you:
So, friends! I hope you’ve enjoyed this series of a few things as of late that’ve made me feel the feels…that make me go, “Mmm.”
Tell me in the comments today…what are some of those things for you??