46…. A number that I never thought I’d associate my age with. Wow! Does time fly? Heck yeah! Now that I’m really in the peak of being a middle aged woman, I’m realizing how it’s not as bad as society makes it seem, and you know what? I’m really embracing it! Just like anything else in life, it’s our choice to choose joy in any situation, so yes, that’s I’m what doing today! Today, on my birthday, I’m realizing yet again that fear really paralyzes us and that excuses are lame. Worry is rooted in fear, and it’s always the goal of the enemy to trap us and make us not move (literally and figuratively). Because I know this, I have to daily say, “NOT TODAY!” I believe in a God who gives us FREEDOM. He calls us to be bold and courageous and to MOVE!

If you follow us on Instagram (thank you!), you know that we try our best to literally move to do what God has called us to do. Our job requires a lot of physical labor, and in many ways, I’m thankful for that because it keeps me accountable in physical fitness especially as I’m aging. I love that our job gives us opportunities to keep moving, keep meeting people, keep learning and experiencing through so many adventures! If you know me, I like to get straight to the point, so I won’t make this blog too long because reading is not my favorite either. But, I wanted to share just THREE of my favorite things. Things that I use either EVERYday of my life or so often that I see a benefit from them, and I simply want to share them with you because they have been helpful to me as I embrace my 40s! Our goal this year is to be as resourceful as possible to YOU! Without you guys, there would be no purpose for us on social media, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your follow and all the fun that we get to have together online!

1. Matcha Latte - You guys, I drink this EVERYday! There’s a specific formula that I’ve perfected in 2024, and I love it no other way.

Reason why I drink it: There are so many health benefits to matcha, but my main reason is because of its antioxidant properties. It’s even better than green tea although I drink green tea daily as well. You can think of matcha as “concentrated” green tea. I combine collagen peptides because they’re so good for your health… for your hair, skin, nail and joint support. My main reason for taking this is for joint support. I don’t want joint issues to affect any of the hiking that we need to do for our work, so I take it religiously as preventive care. It also has 13g of protein, so I love how it makes me feel full to control my hunger/cravings.

So, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

Live Conscious Collagen Peptides (1 scoop)
Matcha Powder (1 teaspoon)
Planet’s Extra creamy, non-sweetened Oatmilk (2 cups)
Honey (1 teaspoon)

Directions:

Warm up the oatmilk in a pot over the stove JUST to when it’s about to boil (Don’t let it boil!)

While your oatmilk is warming up, combine all of the other ingredients in a mug.

Pour the warmed up oatmilk into your mug over all the ingredients..

Use a frother and patiently froth thoroughly so there are no clumps. This process will make the oatmilk “rise” because of the foam, so make sure your mug is big enough.

That’s it! ENJOY! Although 13g of protein is not that much for one meal, I often use this drink as a meal replacement during a busy day.

2. HOKA’S - I mean, how can I call myself a hiker without a good pair of hiking shoes, right? This is pretty self explanatory, but if you want to get into at least intermediate level of hiking, shoes is something you don’t want to compromise. Get a good pair for safety and comfort. Your feet will thank you…. These HOKA’s are actually on sell now, so go get them! Even when we are not on our crazy, adventurous hikes at National Parks, we locally still go to keep in shape and keep our bodies moving, so these are a big need in my lifestyle!

3. Magnesium Lotion - Ok, so hear me out here… Did you know that most of us our magnesium deficient? There are so many reasons why magnesium is important (please look it up!), but my main reason for putting this on right before bed time is for muscle relaxation/restoration and good sleep. I have had restless legs since early teens, so if I don’t put this on, I know it’s going to be a rough night. I learned about magnesium when our son was going through all sorts of health issues with his gut, and his chiropractor’s wife introduced me to this. I’m forever grateful to her! Magnesium is absorbed the best and fastest through the skin, so all you do is take a pea size of this and rub it on your tummy just like lotion, and you’re good to go! Craig uses this EVERY night too! I take this in a small container on the plane when we are traveling and even when we are camping. It’s a must for us!

When I said a few, I meant it! I don’t know about you, but I get overwhelmed with too much info. I need short, concise, simple lists for me to just knock out. I’m the worst multi-tasker, so I love developing one little habit at a time that give me great long term benefits. The list above are things that I seriously implemented into my life that I feel like something is missing if I don’t do/use them. Hope this helps in making our health better together. I’m always checking my DM’s, so please don’t hesitate to reach out on Instagram if you have any questions. As always, thank you!

With my love,

Unchong

These are Few of My Favorite Things! // My Birthday! #46

Craig Obrist