• Home
  • Episodes 
  • Blog
  • Be a Guest
  • About
  • Media
  • Podcast Production
  • Shop
  • Contact
Menu

FINDING ARIZONA PODCAST

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Podcast for Arizona, in Arizona, by Arizona

Your Custom Text Here

FINDING ARIZONA PODCAST

  • Home
  • Episodes 
  • Blog
  • Be a Guest
  • About
  • Media
  • Podcast Production
  • Shop
  • Contact

OUR WEDDING DAY PLAYLIST

August 18, 2019 Britt Johnson
OUR WEDDING DAY PLAYLIST
 

It started with a Spotify playlist one song at a time. From classics like Stevie Wonder to Earth Wind and Fire but also jams of the 90s and 2000s, the songs we grew up to. When you’re nickname is DJBJ you don’t hire someone to curate the soundtrack of one of the best days of your life, but you make it. We previewed it last weekend while working on some project and I am here to announce the best playlist you’ve heard. The Finding AZ Wedding Reception Playlist.

 

We are so excited to have Danielle Durack play live during our ceremony and believe starting off the event with her beautiful voice and acoustic guitar will really be the perfect touch. Not only does she have amazing songs she has written and produced herself, but her cover songs are beautifully sung and leave you with all the feels. You can check out her Spotify page here.

 
OUR WEDDING DAY PLAYLIST
 

As the party begins so will the playlist. As mentioned we have included classic hits from the B-52’s, Guns and Roses and Journey. For the Puerto Rican family we have Marc Anthony,Victor Manuelle, and Elvis Crespo. For the childhood sing alongs we have Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake and Tupac. For the crowd favorites we have Drake, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars. Occasionally we will need some steel drums and island vibes from Bob Marley, Sublime and 311. And we will have a few slow jams from Khalid, Carole King, and Kings of Leon.

 

But of course, its my playlist so I have to add a few of my favorite drum and bass tracks. I saved all the Andy C for the after party but of course included my current favorite, Urban Dawn’s remix of “Come Together” by the Beatles. This track everyone will love and when the bass drops I love it even more! Another classic drum and bass wedding song has been on my wedding playlist since I first heard this song. The song is called “A Song For Lovers” by Bachelors of Science. This classic vocal mentions walking down the aisle and the drum beat will make everyone dance.

 

The hardest decision was our first dance song. Of course I couldn’t choose anything they play on the radio because I would hate it within a month. Of course I couldn’t choose anything that I had already heard at someone else’s wedding because too cheesy. I finally narrowed down my options to 8 songs, then we listened to the playlist with to choose one. Luckily, he chose my top choices too and I won’t reveal here, you’ll have to wait to see.

 

If you have any songs you know we are forgetting to add let me know ASAP! If you have any songs you wants to get your dance on too, let me know! It is not too late to add a few more and perfect it, but come Oct 12 all I want to do is plug it in and let the music play.

XoXo

Britt.

 

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

 
IMG_6697.jpg
IMG_6689.jpg
IMG_6690.jpg
IMG_6673.jpg
IMG_6647.jpg
IMG_6635.jpg
In Wedding Tags Wedding Plan, wedding, Weddings, Wedding Playlisy, Wedding Playlist, Playlist, Spotify, Spotify Playlist, Wedding Songs
Comment

IS PLANNING A WEDDING STRESSFUL?

August 9, 2019 Britt Johnson
Wedding Planning Stress
 

The wedding stress is here. It hit me like a ton of bricks one day. I just started counting the weekends because working full time jobs that’s all you have. Weekends. I started sweating just going outside to work on a few things in the yard and then I started crying. I don’t want to turn into this Bridezilla, but this is honestly not fun anymore and I started to ask why are we doing all this? I never fantasized about the day, the dress, the music let alone the invites, the guest lists and the thank you cards. I only envisioned falling in love and then happily ever after just begins.

 

I am a habitually optimistic person. I know that everything will work out and if it’s doesn’t, then it’s okay, but I need to preface this pessimistic rant. I was honest with my partner and I said I haven’t lost sight of us, it’s just blurry underneath all this wedding chaos. I am thankful for the full support of friends and family, but I wanted to take a blog post to get raw and release some of my stress. And so I can look back at this in a few months and say “whoa” that’s all over! Also any brides past, present or future may be able to relate.

 

The Knot put together an article called: “Signs You're Too Stressed Over Wedding Planning—and How to Fix It.”

I answered yes to all five.


1. You're using all of your lunch breaks to do wedding-related tasks and errands. For me, essentially, answering emails and sending DMs every few hours not just on my “lunch break” is part of my daily routine. For example, I went back and forth on cakes, and I planned on Italian wedding cookies, but when I started comparing cake prices I almost had a heart attack. We are still in the mix of finding the best and most cost effective cake, we are also learning that this is a money making industry!


2. It's straining your relationship with your partner (and they keep suggesting eloping). I keep suggesting eloping, lol. But, it’s not just one day! We chose to get married and our house and invest in us in so many ways so in years from now we can stand in our yard, under our tree and say, “We got married right here.”


3. You start questioning all of your decisions. I always have done this, so wedding planning isn’t any different. You know that meme where the guy is asking the girl “what do you want for dinner” and she can’t decide? I thought that was bad, until we started picking a caterer for the wedding. Selecting pasta I assumed, easy, quick, fairly cheap. WRONG! After tested a few local restaurants the Italian in me was not satisfied so here we are, testing a few more.


4. You procrastinate on the tasks that really need to get done. Sorry Paige, I saw your email that said “some bakers will consider this short notice and charge a rush fee.” This was right about when the anxiety kicked in.


5. It stops being fun. When I had my breakdown I realized it was not fun. But, after reconnecting with who and what are important, grabbing some power tools to build something and working on a small project together, I found myself smiling and counting down the days again.

 

So here we are, 3 months out and a million things left on the list. But through all the stress I see the love and can’t wait to call the man who makes all this cloudy weather sunny my husband!

XoXo

Britt

 
IMG_6521.jpg
IMG_6532.jpg
IMG_6533.jpg
IMG_6536.jpg
IMG_6540.jpg
IMG_6541.jpg
In Wedding Tags Wedding Plan, wedding, Wedding Planning, Weddings, Wedding, Home Decor, Wedding Decor, Home Projects
1 Comment

DATE NIGHT: TACO BELL CANTINA PHOENIX

August 2, 2019 Britt Johnson
Date Night Taco Bell Cantina Night

Jose and I are always looking for easy ways to keep it spicy. From planning a wedding to maintaining a consistent podcast schedule, it gets difficult, sometimes, to remember to take time for us. We routinely make sure to get out for date nights and mix up the norm to avoid this robotic lifestyle. Recently we went to the Taco Bell Cantina and found it to be quite the Friday Night Fiesta!

 

Only 1 of 20 in the United States and 1 in 13 that serve liquor, the Taco Bell Cantina is a place to add to your things to do this in Phoenix, Aizona. It’s smaller than a regular sized restaurant and tucked away in the Collier Center on Second Street off Washington Street- but once you open the doors and the smell of Fire sauce hits your nose it becomes a place you never want to leave.

 
Date Night Taco Bell Cantina Phoenix
 

So what makes it special? Alcohol for starters. The drinks and apps are a mandatory order. Chose from margarita, piña colada and Mountain Dew freezes, which can be ordered with rum, vodka or tequila. Pair it with Cheesy Jalapeño dippers like us, or Mini quesadilla nachos or Naked chicken chips. Also , the decor is next level, flat screens coming together to make a wall of tvs to catch things like the latest boxing match or a hilarious comedy movie.

 

After stuffing our faces and finishing our delicious drinks we had to be the Instagram couple and take come great photos at the hot sauce wall before walking the gorgeous city.

 

I’m looking to go back ASAP; curious if they honor that Dbacks deal? Anyway, if you want to Cantina it up, let me know, comment bellow. I’m always drown for TBell.

XoXo
Britt

 
IMG_5617.jpg
IMG_5594.jpg
IMG_5603.jpg
IMG_5631.jpg
In Personal Tags Date, date night, Taco Bell, Mexican Food, Phoenix, Cantina
Comment

JULY FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS - SATURDAY EDITION

July 27, 2019 Britt Johnson
July Favorite FInds website
 

From opening up our guest room to adjusting into a new career, July was a pretty crazy, quick month! So quick in fact, we had turn this Final Friday Blog post into a Saturday Morning Edition! Enjoy the 5 things we each were loving this month.

 

BRITT’S FIVE

  1. THEMED PARTIES - Earlier this month we threw a Puppy Party inspired by the show Vanderpump Rules. James Kennedy and his girlfriend were planning a puppy shower for their new pup, but since ours was turning one we wanted to throw her a big bash. So after Pinterest-ing a few themes I went with: “Wild One “. We had a Blaze Your Own Trail Mix and other punny food themes. And after whipping out a few different versions of the lavender lemonade I really feel like I’ve nailed it. You can check out some of the photos here. But this inspired me to want to go back to the old-school way of doing parties; cheesy, but they work and everyone loves them. Take our wedding for example black and white everyone in theme: simple and so perfect. It is going to work so well!

  2. THE RESIDENT ON FOX- After starting my new position I realize that I quickly needed to advance my clinical skills so I was searching for a show to start to binge watching and came across The Resident on Hulu. Originally airing on Fox, this drama captures not only the OR but the AR (accounts receivable). I love relating to every aspect and also learning what a new abbreviation stands for or braving myself to watch a laryngoscope camera capture a biopsy to test for cancer.I just saw this and didn’t look away or cringe! If you have any other medical shows, podcasts or books I can learn from, send my way.

  3. GREEK FOOD- I am 14% Italian/ Greek/ Southern European so I am obsessed with mediterranean food. A warm pita, fresh feta, spicy hummus, tender gyro, juicy olives, my mouth waters talking about it. I recently discovered the gyro making kit at Costco and except for not enough pitas, which is always a problem, they were delicious! The gyro is combo beef lamb and so tender and flavored well. Plus, the taziki sauce is quality! Add fresh tomatoes and greens and it’s a great meal. We also have a place called Halal Guys here in Arizona that is so good; street pitas as fresh as can be!

  4. COLOR COORDINATING MZY HOME SCREEN- I saw it in a mag, googled it and saw that Martha Stewart had and article about it so I immediately took a mindless Instagram scrolling night and organized my apps in ROYGBIV order. I thought I would be so difficult to find them, but quite the opposite. My brain automatically knows the color associated with the app, blue: Twitter, FaceBook, Orange: Vivint , Red: Instagram, Yelp. Try it out. It’s so aesthetically pleasing.

  5. ONLY CUBS BASEBALL - Not to be a Negative Nancy, but my last favorite is from a recent realization of what I don’t enjoy! Recently I attended two Diamondback / Dback (whatever they go by) games in a four day span. At first I was excited, ballpark snacks, a live sports atmosphere, but after the 3rd inning I was over it. I realized when you don’t enjoy any of the teams playing, baseball can be a very boring sport. I am sorry to offend any fans out there, but, I don’t remember the last non-cubs baseball game I went to whether that was in Arizona, San Diego, Los Angeles, and of course Chicago. I came home from that Monday night game and turned on the final inning of the cubs game.

 
IMG_5983.jpg
color coordinate home screen.png
IMG_6048.jpg
 

JOSE’S FIVE:

  1. GOOGLE SKETCHUP - The last couple of weeks I have been designing not only at work but at home too. This easy 3D modeling program has help me create things that are hard to envision in the mind. It is a free program and you can access it on SketchUp.com

  2. RAW MEAL DIET- As the 3-0 dwells closer and closer, Britt and I are taking advantage of all health knowledge and making healthy choices together. One we have started is doing 1 raw meal a day. Meaning throughout the day we decide on one meal that has to be completely raw. No sugars, preservatives, or carbs. Which has been helping a lot with our digestion.

  3. CBD RUB - Chronic lower back issues has been my achilles heel for years, and now I have solution to when it flares up. Any CBD rub gives my inflammation an instant relief. Granted, this is not a cure all. I also have continued my stretching and my yoga to help strengthen my core which is the root of my issue.

  4. THE BOYS - This Amazon Original series is new product to the superhero world. The pitch here for this series is “WATCHMEN MEETS KICKASS AND MAKE IT INTO A SERIES.” Surprisingly finding its way through dark humor and superhero antics, I enjoy the overall characters. If you are a fan of the DEADPOOL movies, you will definitely enjoy this hit.

  5. 90’s PLAYLIST (SPOTIFY) - I was doing some wedding playlist searching, and found myself listening to this playlist. It brought me back to my childhood and it felt great to bob my head to every song in the line-up. You can follow this playlist and jam with me here.

 

August is my Birthday Month! Thirty is approaching and I am excited for the wedding plans to come together.

XoXo

Britt

 
In Personal Tags Favorites, Friday, Personal, Podcast, Apps, Foodie, Snacks, Music
Comment

ACEVEDO DESIGNED ACEVEDO BUILT

July 18, 2019 Britt Johnson
Finding AZ  Renno
 

A few weeks ago, Jose posted a photo of our newly finished product, the pergola! Acevedo designed and Acevedo build, the deck and the pergola are the newest additions to the FInding Arizona Home and we are one step closer to the wedding date and the backyard looking fabulous! I wanted to take this time to highlight the amazing team behind Pair of Aces. My amazing father in law and his business partner work so hard to deliver quality results and treat every project like it is apart of their home.

 

Our deck was the first project the Aces worked on. This gigantic 16x18ft deck was put up in 3 days and elevated the space in so many ways. We went from a 2x4ft plastic deck to a massive idahoan wood dance floor. I came home from work one day and had the pleasure of screwing in the last screw! Speaking of dance floor: it has been brought to my attention by a close friend, and professional that if you are attending the Finding AZ Wedding DO NOT wear skinny heels. Block heels, wedges and flats are preferred, not only for the deck, but the grass ceremony and gravel dinner. I am sure at one point all shoes will be off, but just a side note.

 
Sketch Up Finding AZ  Renno
 

More recently, the pergola was designed and installed. I loved watched Jose use Sketchup to bring his design to life. I joked that the model in the photo looked just like him! Right?

 

After printing out measurements to the team, the Pair of Aces were off to work cementing in footings and getting all the wood we need to sand and stain. We wanted to work smarter so we sanded and sealed each piece of lumber prior to it going up. This meant late nights and sore muscles, but now that it is all up we are so glad we took the tame to protect the wood.

 

Each hour casts a different shadow on the pergola creating the most breathtaking shadows. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in our library gazing out the sliding glass doors in awe of the hand crafted masterpiece. From the block wall, to the deck to the pergola all I want to do is hangout outside in the yard and admire. BUT of course in the pool, because we have officially hit triple digit teens in AZ!

 

Time to book your travel plans and pack your bathing suit. I fixed up the guest room for some amazing people staying with us in July, and of course, will shared the details on the blog here! No, it’s not a real Air BnB but it feels like paradise to us everyday.

XoXo

Britt

 
IMG_3717.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-30 at 8.50.20 AM.png
IMG_3716.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-30 at 8.51.32 AM.png
IMG_5096.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-30 at 8.52.42 AM.png
IMG_5099.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-30 at 8.51.05 AM.png
IMG_5086.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-30 at 8.53.14 AM.png
In Home Tags homeowner, Home Rennovations, Design, Custom Build, Build
Comment

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL INVITES BY DESIGN SQUEEZE

July 13, 2019 Britt Johnson
Design Squeeze Finding AZ Wedding
 

I got a text two days ago saying, “I got your wedding invitation!! So beautiful! Just like you.” BEAUTIFUL is exactly the word I would use to describe these custom watercolor invitations by Design Squeeze. From the custom watercolor agave to the classically, clean info sheet, these invitations are everything we wanted and more!

 

I discovered Design Squeeze through The Honey Book, like so many amazingly talented creatives we have worked with. I found out her name was also Brittany, and after scheduling a meet up at Copper Star Coffee, we saw how passionate she was and loved her open arms to work with us! Our meet and greet was getting to know her and her journey of transitioning from a side hustle to full time business owner and also venturing into the blessed world of motherhood. She met our puppy, Winter, and went through the timeline of the process: questionnaire, design, edits, production. What seemed like so long, is here now!

 

The process of working with Brittany at Design Squeeze is seamless. Her online web portal started us off with a questionnaire covering everything from favorite fonts and colors, to things to avoid. We had a fun time asking ourselves what we saw for our dream invites, browsing through Pinterest and clipping magazine examples. Getting our first draft back was as exciting as a Christmas morning. Always seeing what a designer envisions from your suggestions is my favorite part of the process. Brittany did a great job capturing our style in 2 very unique and different ways at first. Design 1, although I loved, did present more of a feminine feel with the pink colors and curvy fonts. Design 2 took my breath away. From the simple watercolor to the classic black and white feature card, I was smiling from ear to ear.

 
Design Sample 1.jpg
Desgn  Proof 2 .jpg
 

Each edit and proof was so easy to navigate and communicate. Within days the edits were made and Brittany was more than open to suggestions to ensure it was exactly what we wanted for our special day. When it came time to sample paper, I left it up to the the expert herself and when she hand delivered them to us I was nearly in tears.

 
Design Squeeze Agave Water Color Custom Invitation
 

This new mommy, who was gifted a beautiful healthy baby girl in this time frame also stuffed all of the envelopes! She truly is the best! All that was left was stamp and seal!

 

Browsing though the gram one day I saw an advertisement for custom stamps from stamps.com. Our face on a stamp? I thought I had to be famous for that! It was a great way to add another personal touch to our invites. We ordered 2 different types for the invites and RSVPs. Just in time, the maid of honor showed up for a weekend in the desert when the stamps arrived! We organized, sealed and sipped coffee one morning, then off to the post office for a photo shoot worth getting honked at.

 
final stamps .jpg
kell.jpg
 

My two favorite things about the invites are how perfect each piece is as a stand alone, but also how it comes together to complete the suite beautifully. These are extras we can keep as momentas forever. My second favorite is one of the things I was most nervous about addressing:
Dress Code & No Children. We love your kids, but keep them home. We want everyone to feel safe, relaxed and comfortable. We have a pool. We have drinks. Enjoy 1 night without the littles. AND wear Black and White ONLY. We want the whole party to feel apart of the “party.” Simple, classic and clean. Dont make me give you a Goodwill back up at the door.

 

It is not the end of our journey with Design Squeeze. We, of course, will be having Brittany on for a full episode on the Finding Arizona Podcast so everyone can learn about her amazing talents and why you want to work with her to from anything from invites to custom stationary to prints and signs! You can learn more and send Brittany a message for her services at designsqueeze.com and we will see some of you in a few months.

Looking forward to getting back your RSVP’s

XoXo

Britt

In Wedding Tags Wedding, Invitations, Custom Stationary, Custom, Watercolor, Wedding Invites, Wedding Suite, RSVPS
1 Comment

GUEST ROOM REDESIGN ON A DIME

July 5, 2019 Britt Johnson
Guest Room Redesign on a Dime
 

It only took us over a year to fix up the guest room, but we did it! First, it was storage, then WInter’s Dog Room, and now a proper guest room for our future stays! I cannot be more excited about the first guest staying in the room, but before that, I want to share all the details of this design on a dime guest room.

 

When we first moved in and painted every room in the house I immediately used this room to practice an ombre wall. Blending blues for hours and hours I was very impressed by my work of art and have even used it for several photo backdrops. We used the blank walls to hang my Monet prints collection. Other than that this room was easy to clean up to prep for a makeover. A little paint to touch up the base boards that our wonder full puppy chewed up and the room was ready for furniture.

 

We wanted to go with a futon for function and sticking with the midcentury trend keep the style of the furniture like the house. A futon allows us to maybe put a bed in later or adjust the use of the room altogether. We also wanted to put in a credenza. Not a dresser and not a tv console, but both, and our guests can put snacks in their too! These two pieces are bold in color and purpose but we are happy with the outcome and function.

 
 

Thriting and repurposing was where the rest of the details came from. My favorite orange rug from Ikea is a simple and inexpensive way to add color and change up a room. I love the shag to it! Great for bedrooms! Speaking of Ikea this clock shelf was in my office for the last 6 years, and I still love to this day, which is why Ikea still carries it! The statement chair was a set of two from Costco 6 years ago as well and Costco doesn’t even carry things from 6 months ago so good luck finding that! Finally I thrifted this Ikea blue table at a Goodwill 50% off day and scored it for $3.

 

I would like to think I am pretty good at “Staging a Bookcase.” All you really need are: Books (lol), candles, plants (real or fake), art, photos, crystals (something unique). Make sure to balance each shelf meaning if you did a book on the right, a few shelves down, add book on the left. Always share photos of great memories and change them out from time to time or different seasons or guests. And finally, put some crystals in there. Cleanse the energy and give your guests something to admire.

 

A few candles and throw pillows from target’s clearance section and we are ready to put some fresh linens in the cabinet and have our first guest enjoy her stay. We are book through July and Last week in August, but message me and we can see whats open for the other summer dates.

XoXo

Britt

 
IMG_5688.jpg
IMG_5273.jpg
IMG_5282.jpg
IMG_5274.jpg
IMG_5283.jpg
IMG_5277.jpg
IMG_5279.jpg
IMG_5275.jpg
In Home Tags Design, Redesign, Guest Room, Home, House, Decorate, Space, Budget
Comment

JUNE FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS

June 28, 2019 Britt Johnson
JUNE Favorite FInds
 

June makes is Summa Summa Summa Time in AZ and things are heating up. Temps hit 110 this week and here are the 5 things we each did to keep our cool and stay cool.

 

BRITT’S FIVE

  1. ONE RAW MEAL A DAY- If you have not read my blog post about my results from my food sensitivities test, I suggest you do so here. But, LMTY (Let me tell you) I think I just made that acronym up. I am really more conscious of my food habits and choosing to nourish by supplementing 1 raw meal a day. Whether that be a protein shake or a Perfect Bar for breakfast or a pressed juice or a salad for lunch. I have substituted cashew milk and all!

  2. BEING A STUDENT - I promise this is not a post to highlight my blogs, although, if you create BOMB content share the hell out of it because you worked so hard to put your heart out there. Recently, I changed careers and have spend the second half of June being the best student. First, it is in healthcare and more specifically: skilled nursing. Second, it also involves a Microsoft HP Elitebook and an Android Samsung Galaxy S9+. Send help! Between my online training and in person trial by fire I know this time next month I will be confident from competence. Catch up on the change here.

  3. HAIR CLIPS FROM THE 90S - You have seen them all over insa! And would you would believe I still have a few a barrettes from when I was a kid? I did score and find some amazing deal on a amazon for too many I will ever use. I am a creature of habit and will usually style my hair the same way, but throwing in a barrette allows for variety. I really wish I could rock the headbands but I get the worst headaches.

  4. WORKAHOLICS - I know this show stopped airing years ago, and if I was doing this blog feature then it would have been on it for sure. I was searching Hulu for a new binge and came across this comedy classic. Three stoner friends surviving corporate america, barely and living for shenanigans- what more can you ask for for a good laugh. I recently watched the Adam Devin Netflix special and it was a hilarious too! Definitely a recommend.

  5. THE ALCHEMIST- Our July book of the month book is The Alchemist by by Paulo Coelho is the story of a shepherd’s journey, but is sooooo much more than that. It was such a great book for my career transition and also a book for anyone and everyone to learn from and most importantly what happens when you pursue your dreams.

 
IMG_4392.jpg
IMG_5374.jpg
IMG_4423.jpg
 

JOSE’S FIVE:

  1. DRAKE FT. RICK ROSS (MONEY IN THE GRAVE) - This is my new workout jam. It’s just a good hit you gotta listen to.

  2. WELL FOR CULTURE PODCAST - Well For Culture is an Indigenous wellness initiative to help reclaim health and wellness. Episode 1 is the introductory episode: a breakdown of our general philosophy, a peek into who we are, and a preview of what’s to come. Take a listen here.

  3. DAVID DOBREK VLOG - This youtuber has a comedy vlog series that has had me cracking up from its ability swing emotionally through the episodes. From laughs, to crazy stunts, and celebrity visits catch it all every week for FREE. Check it out here.

  4. LUNCH TIME - Recently, Britt has been home for lunch with me. Its fun to send extra time with your significant other than you normally do. Our time together is precious and I enjoy every second we get.

  5. POOLS!! - As the summer months starts to ramp up, I am thankful for the pool I can jump in and enjoy. I use it to swim and exercise in. Its overall therapy from the harsh temperatures.

 

July has some fun guests in store and even warmer weather! June FLEW by and I know the last 3 before the wedding will even more!

XoXo

Britt

 
In Personal Tags Favorites, Friday, Personal, Podcast, Apps, Foodie, Snacks, Music
Comment

NO MORE ALMONDS- YOU'RE NUTS

June 21, 2019 Britt Johnson
IMG_9615.jpg
 

The test results for my food sensitivities test are in. What!? Food sensitivities!? Yes! I took an Everlywell at home test to be more aware of what I am feeding my body. As you can tell by my title, ALMONDS are at the top of the list! And it’s all I can think about eating. But, here are the #5W’s to share my journey from eating nuts to being a healthier nut.

 

This idea sparked a few years ago when I took an at home DNA test for my golden birthday. I was rehashed with a food test and didn’t bite. I saw a few people on the socials trying the sensitivities test and fascinated with their results. And, finally, over the last 3 years I have tried changing my habits and incorporating juice cleanses, but need the cold, hard facts to tell me what to do.

 

What is the difference between sensitivities and allergies? The Mayo Clinic best defines it:“Food allergies cause an immune system reaction, where food intolerance/sensitivities symptoms are often limited to digestive problems.” I realized that drinking an overload of kombucha did not produce any more benefits than just a delicious refreshing drink after a certain point. And after my initial I’m hungry and have a bad headache from the first day of juice cleanse feeling I felt great and wanted to carry on that.

 
SQUEEZED ONLINE & THE ALCHEMIST
 

I ordered my Everlywell test and it arrived in 3 days. The test kit had everything I needed. First, I created a profile online and registered my code. The registration allowed me to get text confirmations and immediate notifications when my results were ready. Then it was time to collect the sample. I had Jose prick my finger and pool just enough blood to fill three dots on the collection card. Lancets are provided and my brave, strong, future husband did all the work! A few bandaids later, I let the sample paper dry and properly enveloped it to drop off for mailing.

 

Everly Well’s testing labs are CLIA certified and the test results are independently validated by a doctor. My test results were ready in exactly 7 business days.

 

My food sensitivity results showed 1 food that was a high reactivity, 4 that were moderate reactivity, 16 that were mild reactivity, and 75 that were low reactivity. Low Reactivity are considered largely non-reactive, as this level of reactivity is considered normal, while High Reactivity (Class 3) foods are considered very reactive and guess what was there- ALMONDS! My favorite nut, my favorite candy bar, my favorite cookie….. now my new love will be Cashews.

 

Not surprising were my moderate reactivity foods: MILK- COWS, WHEAT, CHEESE- MOZZARELLA, CHEESE- COTTAGE. Well, surprising because I LOVE CHEESE, but not because we all should be more aware of the gluten and dairy we’re intaking. One of my intentions for June was to eat 1 raw meal per day and I have honored that by replacing a meal with a juice or a salad everyday since.

 

I’ll wrap up my results with my mild reactivity foods, the 16 are: GLUTEN, MALT, POTATO- WHITE, BARLEY, TURKEY, CORN, LETTUCE, CABBAGE, PINEAPPLE, LEMON. PEACH, SOLE. MUSHROOM. COCOA. CHICKEN. WATERMELON. My alcohol reactions now make sense as my body is not tolerating it any more, but if I have to suffer a tummy ache for cocoa, I just might. I can give up Vodka, but not Chocolate.

 

I will continue my bio hacking journey and taking any tips and tricks to avoid cheese. I will use this info to make healthier decisions for myself and encourage those I love to honor their health too. I loved my experience with Everlywell. They have easy-to-use tests that range from Food Sensitivity to Thyroid, and 30 others. Use my link and get 20% off your purchase!

XoXo

Britt

 
IMG_2189.jpg
Screen Shot 2019-06-21 at 7.53.58 PM.png
IMG_0661.jpg
PINTEREST  ON THE BLOG.jpg
In Personal Tags food, test, Personal, nutrition, diet, everlywell
1 Comment

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES....

June 14, 2019 Britt Johnson
IMG_5057.JPG

I debated about sharing this. I REALLY debated about sharing this in anyway and the last thing I thought about was writing a blog post about it. BUT, while taking a shower, where I get my best thoughts, it came to me…. why am I not sharing this!

 

For the past nine years, almost a decade, I’ve been an entrepreneur and more recently I am making the biggest change into corporate America. Why am I scared to share? Because of what others would think of me? Oh, how horrible that is to say, how horrible that is to type, but just thinking about it made me realize that I’m not alone and I definitely need to share and let others know that they can be confident in making and sharing life changes too!

 

Straight out of college I jumped in to a direct marketing and sales position. I had no idea what I was doing at first but, I knew that I loved it I had a passion for the people I was surrounded by every single day and I was learning something new every single day. Within 24 months, I was running my own marketing company! I was in a completely new state I was making decisions for people’s futures, writing and signing paychecks. I was creating opportunities and jobs for people every single day.

 

I am more than grateful for the skills that I’ve acquired through a career in direct marketing and sales. The first half of my nearly decade in this industry was building and developing Roadshows for Fortune 100 companies. Learning how to take “No’s to the Chin” and how to time manage like a MOFO was my specialty. The second half was building and developing people and then really honing in on my skill sets in marketing both direct and indirect. I created digital magazines, built websites and took on the challenges of learning photography and videography. I had business coaches and I had life coaches.

 

I went from running the business to having one of my best friends and business partners allow me to help run her organization on a daily basis. Most recently she’s been presented an opportunity to help hit some of her long-term goals and I am more than excited to watch her grow. This also has allowed me to really look at my goals and ask myself “Where do I see myself growing.” At first I said, “I can’t imagine my life without this business“ and then I realized, “I can’t imagine my life without her in this business.” So the universe provided me with connections and opportunities and without even me sending my resume to the job boards that I am more than familiar with getting candidates from I was put in the right inbox at the right time and made an unbelievable connection into the corporate world of healthcare. This will be a completely different industry, but at the end of the day it’s all about building relationships, putting a smile on somebody’s face and HELPING PEOPLE.

 

So as this one door closes I see 1 million more opening and I’m definitely not saying goodbye to anyone today it is see you later. Driving to my last day at the office today I listened to the Tim Ferriss Show interview with The Coach with the Spider Tattoo and among many things, one quote stood out to me: “Often times we speak with our actions and go through life without being heard.” And this is my attempt at speaking my actions.

 

Do I feel better after sharing this? Yes, but not as good as I felt after telling my parents and they were the ones that I was the most nervous, scared, in fact, hesitant, to tell because of what they would think. But why? They’ve shown nothing but love; they have and they always will. So if you’re reading this afraid to tell somebody you love something, I hope this gives you the courage to do just that because tomorrow will be a better day for us all.

Xoxo
Britt

 
feb 2014 promotion.jpg
office 2014.jpg
lindsey2015 .jpg
kimpaul 2015.jpg
herb 2015 promotion .jpg
Dom Rep 2017.jpg
PR 2012.jpg
smart circle bahamas 2015.jpg
pulsar puerto rico 2012.jpg
san fran 2011 .jpg
In Personal Tags Personal, Career, Life Change, Business, Entrepreneurs, Corporate, Opportunities, Opportunity
Comment
← Newer Posts Older Posts →

COPYRIGHT © 2025 FINDING ARIZONA PODCAST | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PRIVACY POLICY