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https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/

Last year I signed up for an eight-week Strong(wo)man course at the gym, during which I was introduced to many odd objects and ways of moving them.

On one particular day, the athletes were tasked with picking up a sandbag from the ground and carrying it 100 feet, working up to our heaviest possible bag. I really get a kick out of feats like these, and I enjoy learning new ways to challenge my body.

After a few rounds of hoisting these awkward, heavy bags, I made a quip about the destruction of my lovely gel manicure—my nails, while trying to get the sandbag off the ground, were repeatedly scraping against the concrete floor.

It wasn’t a complaint, of course. I don’t complain during workouts, and to be honest, I try to make it a habit not to complain at all; complaining is useless—action is preferable. No, it wasn’t a complaint; it was more of a jocular reference to the fact that while I do like to get sweaty and dirty and chalked up at the gym, I also still care about my manicure.

I care deeply about my manicure, in fact.

A fellow female lifter jokingly replied, “Oh come on, Neg!” alluding to the fact that Strongwoman training leaves no room for manicures.

I responded in turn with, “Hey, I’m allowed.”

Because you know what? I AM ALLOWED.

I’m allowed to like squats and sparkly nail polish
in equal measure.

I’m allowed to get sweaty and dirty while smashing weights, and still truly care about things like lipstick and bronzer and fashion.

I’m allowed to relentlessly pursue strength and simultaneously pursue things that society deems to be in direct opposition of that pursuit.

I’m allowed to be a badass, and a girlie-girl, and a feminist, and a doting wife, and a nurturing mom, and an entrepreneur, and anything I damn well decide to be— all at once, in intervals, and everywhere in between.

I’m allowed to have my own personal definition of “feminine,” my feminine—because the only person who can give me permission to be myself is me.

I’m allowed to be powerful and feminine, because those things are not mutually exclusive.

I’m allowed. And so are you.

You’re allowed to determine what “feminine” means to you, and you’re allowed to identify what makes you feel powerful, what makes you feel most aligned and fully alive. So instead of collapsing silently and peacefully into the mold that someone else has created for us, I suggest we each create our own.

Better yet, why not reject the idea of a mold altogether? Why not give ourselves permission to be whoever the hell we want to be, whenever we choose? To be the people we know we’re truly meant to be, rather than the people we think we’re supposed to be?

No one decides what “feminine” means to you, except for you. No one can give you permission to authentically and unapologetically you except for you—and isn’t that excellent news?

It means that no one else has the power to label you or stuff you into a box that doesn’t define you. It means that you get to decide what you’re qualified to do and say; you get to be as powerful as you want to be; you get to define yourself—you and you alone.

Looking anywhere else but within for the permission to be yourself is not only ineffective, it’s limiting. If we spend our energy and resources seeking external permission, we might never discover the powerful, phenomenal goddesses that we are.

Today I want you to give yourself permission to be an amalgamation of many things—even if society deems those things to be contradictory.

Be an athlete who cares about her manicure. Be a great mother who doesn’t like PTA meetings. Be a feminist who loves gangster rap. Be You in every possible way, despite what society tells you you’re supposed to be.

Show up in all of your self-defined glory
and say, “I’m allowed.”

At Girls Gone Strong, we want you to feel confident knowing that what you’re doing to look good, feel good, and feel healthy and strong are not only based on tested, reliable, and safe information from trustworthy sources, but that it is also effective and efficient.
That’s why we developed our flagship training system, The Modern Woman’s Guide To Strength Training (AND IT’S ON SALE RIGHT NOW! UP TO 40% OFF!)

At Girls Gone Strong, we want you to feel confident knowing that what you’re doing to look good, feel good, and feel healthy and strong are not only based on tested, reliable, and safe information from trustworthy sources, but that it is also effective and efficient.
That’s why we developed our flagship training system, The Modern Woman’s Guide To Strength Training (AND IT’S ON SALE RIGHT NOW! UP TO 40% OFF!)

Learn more here!

The post You Don’t Need Permission To Be Yourself appeared first on Girls Gone Strong.

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

(Image credit: HellthyJunkFood/ YouTube)

National Grilled Cheese Day is April 12, which means it’s absolutely not too early to start planning to make this grilled cheese fest the best one yet. Looking for ideas? Let’s think big this year. Hellthy Junk Food’s video tutorial on a gargantuan grilled cheese isn’t for those who are faint of heart (or wary of lactose).

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http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

There are a lot of ways dishes can end up too spicy: Maybe the recipe was developed using a milder version of a curry paste than what you ended up buying, or you used an especially spicy batch of fresh chiles, or you accidentally put in one tablespoon of hot sauce rather than one teaspoon, or perhaps you just dumped too much cayenne into your pot of chili.

Relax! All is not lost. Even though you can’t take out the spiciness once it’s in a dish, there are things you can do to tone it down so the food doesn’t go to waste. Here are some of our favorite ways.

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http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tacos

(Image credit: Diana Yen)

If one of your goals for the new year is to focus on eating a more wholesome diet, the slow cooker is one of the most helpful tools in the kitchen to get you there. Instead of thinking about specific foods to add to your weekly meal plan, first consider the appliance that will get you there. Here are seven smart ways to utilize your slow cooker to prepare more wholesome meals throughout the week.

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http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Before the big reveal, go ahead and take a guess.

A sponge? Nice try, but nope.

Paper towels? Not very green. But also, nah.

Or what about surface-cleaning spray? Eh, not really!

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http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

A Sweet Small Space with a Retro Scandi Modern Mix in Montreal

(Image credit: Marie-Lyne Quirion)

One of the quickest ways to make a kitchen (or any space, really) happier? Add plants! It’s true. Real scientific studies have found that plants can make us happier, more productive, and less stressed.

And you can still add some greenery if your kitchen is limited in the way of counter or shelf space. Just note these hanging planters in this Montreal kitchen. They totally work over a breakfast table or sink, or just off in the corner. Don’t you just want to smile already?

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For 30 days this month we’re exploring Whole30, the 30-day reset and refocus on whole foods. Whole30 isn’t a diet or a judgment of foods as “good and bad.” It’s actually a short-term reset that has helped many of our readers cook more and figure out the foods that make them feel their best. Read more about our coverage here.

It’s a conundrum we all face: What to eat for lunch? The mid-day meal can be a tricky one to crack, but there’s no need to settle for something sad.

From rustic leek soup to smoky corn and shrimp fritters, these 15 tasty recipes are quick and easy to assemble and packed with veggies. And oh, they just happen to be Whole30-friendly too!

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http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pick a vehicle — any vehicle! Be it a truck, boat, taxi, plane, or train, a transportation-themed party is always a good idea for a little guy’s birthday. Just look at this bash that Megan, the blogger behind Honey We’re Home, threw for her son. It’s simple, sweet, and totally easy for you to recreate.

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