She's A Full On Monet

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Skin breakouts really can be a thing of the past! Camille Chulick spent 16 years of her life trying to cure her acne with skin products, diet changes, and supplements, to no avail, until she created her own skincare brand, Averr Aglow. Averr Aglow began in Camille’s kitchen as a self-funded experimental business venture, and has since grown to help thousands of women (and even some men) across the world turn their lives around through clearing their skin. In today’s episode, Camille shares the process that she and her husband went through to create their clean, plant based, and super effective products, the values at the heart of the business, and how their different lines cater to all skin types. Take it from someone who knows from personal experience; you don’t have to spend any more time suffering because of your skin!

Key Points From This Episode:

The battle with her skin that motivated Camille to enter the skincare space.
Factors that affect our skin.
Camille explains how clogged pores form.
The origin story of Averr Aglow.
How Camille and her husband funded Averr Aglow.
Averr Aglow’s growth from its humble beginnings in Camille’s kitchen.
The importance of learning from customer feedback.
Camille shares the story behind the name of her brand.
An overview of Averr Aglow’s simple Clear Skin Kit routine.
Understanding how breakouts occur.
Forever Aglow; the Averr Aglow product line for people who don’t experience breakouts.
Ingredients that Averr Aglow products are made from.
The problem with a lot of the big skincare brands.
PCOS and its correlation with breakouts.
Why Averr Aglow products don’t require you to use sink water.
Positive trends taking place in the skincare industry.
Camille’s advice for anyone struggling with breakouts.
Benefits of being part of the Averr Aglow community.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Averr Aglow

Averr Aglow on Instagram

Averr Aglow on Facebook

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Small talk doesn’t come naturally to everybody but we believe that it is an art worth mastering! In today’s episode, we discuss the benefits of small talk while sharing our struggles, tips, and everything in between. COVID has had a significant effect on people’s ability to interact with one another and, today, we speculate about the value of a simple compliment and the potential for small talk to lead to deeper connections. We also take a look at the opportunity that small talk presents for people with social anxiety and share our advice for those looking to brush up on their casual conversation skills. Everybody’s experience is different, and your hosts are no exception, so make sure to tune in today to hear Kelly and Megan’s differing takes on all things small talk!

Key Points From This Episode:

What Kelly appreciates about small talk and ‘weak-tie’ friendships.
The impact that COVID has had on social interactions.
A look at why Megan has difficulty making small talk.
How Kelly’s past experiences have shaped her relationship with privacy.
Some of the disadvantages of oversharing.
Kelly shares why she doesn’t seek advice when making decisions.
Why she kept her first pregnancy to herself until she was seven months along.
How we believe small talk can lead to deeper connections.
The opportunity that small talk provides for people with social anxiety.
Tips for mastering the art of small talk.
What often prevents us from casually connecting with others.
The value of dishing out a simple compliment!
Examining our human need for social interaction.
The importance of practicing small talk if it doesn’t come naturally.
How our mobile devices sometimes prevent small talk.
Advice for those who experience social anxiety at social events.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Breathwork can be a simple but powerful tool for radical transformation. This is one of the foundational beliefs of today’s guest, Alyse Bacine. Alyse is a transformational leader, mindfulness teacher, keynote speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Alyse Breathes, where she guides growth-seeking individuals and companies to ignite their next level of success. As you’ll discover in today’s episode, Alyse utilizes breathwork along with other tools like energy work and the Akashic records to help people move through deep-seated familial and ancestral trauma. In this conversation, we take a look at some of the differences between meditation and breathwork, how Alyse believes anyone can benefit from consciously connecting with their breath, and how her programs can support you in your journey to release ancestral programming and expand your vision of what’s possible to begin living in the frequency of miracles! To learn more about clearing your trauma, creating a deeper connection with your body, and accessing your highest potential, make sure not to miss today’s enlightening discussion with Alyse Bacine!

Key Points From This Episode:

When Alyse discovered breathwork for herself and what led her to build a business around it.
A look at breathwork and how you can benefit from consciously connecting to your breath.
How the Akashic records can help you access your highest potential.
An understanding of the differences between breathwork and meditation.
Where to get started on your breathwork journey and the value of having support.
Learn more about ancestral trauma and how breathwork can facilitate healing.
A reminder that passing on ancestral trauma is optional; it can stop with you!
How breathwork promotes a deeper connection with your body (and your intuition).
Alyse emphasizes why it’s important to embrace fear and get out of your comfort zone.
Where to get your free Next-Level Expansion Toolkit!
Some of Alyse’s signature programs and who can benefit from them.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Alyse Breathes

Alyse Breathes on Instagram

Alyse Breathes on Facebook

Alyse Breathes on LinkedIn

Reclaiming Consciousness Podcast

The Metamorphosis Method

‘Why Clearing Your Trauma is the Fastest (and only) Way to Create Quantum Results’

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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If you’re a busy mom, you’re likely familiar with the feeling that there is never enough time in a day and, when you think about your priorities, making time for self-care probably gets penciled in near the bottom of your to-do list. The truth is, you can’t pour from an empty cup and, believe it or not, scheduling non-negotiable ‘me time’ for yourself is not inconsiderate. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others, which is why we are sharing some practical self-care tips for moms in today’s episode. In this conversation, we take a look at some of the ways that you can take better care of yourself in order to take better care of your loved ones and highlight the importance of setting a self-care standard and not asking for permission. Whether it’s taking a bath, hitting the gym, or simply putting your headphones on and listening to your favorite podcast, figure out what it is that recharges your batteries and be willing to protect it selfishly. After all, investing in yourself will not only reinvigorate you, it will benefit those around you too. Make sure to tune in today for more valuable mom self-care tips!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why today’s topic is especially timely and relevant for Kelly and Megan.
A look at why the old adage, ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’, is so pertinent.
Overcoming the mom urge to fix all your kids’ problems for them, even when they’re grown!
An understanding of how we have to parent each of our children differently.
The physical and emotional work we do as moms that makes self-care so important.
Some of the ways that you can take care of yourself in order to take care of others.
The value of setting a self-care standard and scheduling non-negotiable ‘me time’.
Why it’s important to prioritize and invest in your own joy and happiness.
Why it can often be difficult to unplug and unwind when we’re so hyperconnected.
Finding creative ways to practice self-care whenever you have a spare moment; don’t wait to treat yourself to an extravagant spa day!
How you can expand on the ‘little treat’ mindset to be more deliberate about self-care.
Why we believe you shouldn’t have to ask for permission to take time for yourself.
Learning to claim your ‘self’ back without any of the classic mom guilt!
The concept of time autonomy and giving yourself grace when no one else will.
Figuring out what it is that recharges your batteries (and protecting it selfishly).
A look at how investing in yourself benefits those around you too.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Choosing to end a toxic relationship might be the best thing for you, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s easy! It can even be tricky to determine whether or not your relationship is toxic in the first place, since everyone has different criteria for what is healthy and what works for them. In today’s episode, we offer some perspective from our personal experiences and share some advice for recovering from an unhealthy relationship once you’ve made the decision to end it. We highlight the importance of acceptance, self-forgiveness, and patience and the benefits of seeking professional support as you navigate this difficult journey. We also take a look at some of the signs that your relationship is unhealthy and when you might have to accept that your own behavior is toxic, plus we point out some free mental health resources that are available to you. Ultimately, healing from a toxic relationship isn’t about following a set of predetermined steps, but we hope that this episode will help you equip yourself with the tools you need to make the tough but rewarding journey to recovery!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why the topic of toxic relationships is somewhat subjective, depending on your thresholds.
Three criteria for determining whether or not a relationship is toxic for you: feelings, needs, and boundaries.
Parts of our relationships that others might perceive as toxic, but feel healthy to us.
Why being in a toxic relationship with someone doesn’t mean that person is toxic.
A reminder that, while relationships are hard work, you shouldn’t have to force them to work!
The first step in toxic relationship recovery: accepting that the relationship is toxic.
Why it’s important to take time to reflect, learn from your mistakes, and then forgive yourself.
Some of the difficult emotions you might feel after deciding to end the relationship.
How you might benefit from seeking professional guidance or support.
Indicators of a toxic relationship, including emotional invalidation or gaslighting.
Some of the free or cost-effective mental health resources available to you.
A look at why you might have to accept that your own behavior is toxic.
How making a gratitude list helps Kelly when she’s having a bad day.
The important role that patience plays in recovering from toxic relationships.
Why you are the only person who gets to decide what is healthy or toxic for you.
Share your stories of how you healed from a toxic relationship on our Facebook group!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

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When Suzannah Raff had four kids back to back she realized the value of embracing a clean diet. As she started to read ingredients, she eliminated certain foods and it made her feel good. After investigating what went into her body, she also started to question what she was putting onto it. Making her own clean beauty, aluminum-free deodorant led her to start Cleo+Coco, her own brand of unquestionably clean personal care necessities that enhance your wellness both emotionally and physically. Today she joins us to share her journey and explain how her desire to be a role model and to start a business that she could pass on to her children led her to start this company. She talks about the research involved, some of the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them. She sheds light on how she balances being both a business owner and a mother of four and offers advice to other mothers who are thinking about starting their own businesses. Listening in, you’ll learn more about what clean beauty is, how you can ensure that you are using clean products, and how to tell if a product actually qualifies as clean. Tune in today for a lot of helpful advice and Suzannah’s inspirational success story!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to Suzannah Raff and the inspiration behind Cleo+Coco.
How she started making her own deodorant.
Cleo+Coco's main mission: unquestionably clean personal care necessities that enhance your wellness emotionally and physically.
The research Suzannah did as her first step in creating Cleo+Coco.
Some of the biggest challenges she faced in creating this brand and how she overcame them.
How Suzannah balances being a business owner and a mother of four.
Suzannah’s tips for mothers who are thinking about starting their own businesses.
How she makes time for herself through workout time and how she practices self-care.
Suzannah’s definition of ‘clean beauty’ and how to ensure that you are using clean products.
How having four kids back-to-back inspired Savannah’s clean diet which led to her clean lifestyle.
Telltale signs that a product actually qualifies as clean beauty.
What listeners can do if they want to start living a cleaner lifestyle.
What makes Cleo+Coco clean beauty.

Tweetables:

“I had a vision that I wanted to start something, to run a business, and maybe have some kind of business to pass onto my children, at least be a role model, especially to my daughters.” — Suzannah Raff [0:02:10]

“Our main mission is really to provide really clean, better for your body, healthy, personal care options that you really should not have to compromise your health to smell good. You shouldn't have to compromise your health for any of your personal care needs.” — Suzannah Raff [0:05:35]

“You can do it [build a business] slower. If I'm working [fewer] hours because I'm prioritizing my family, instead of building it in six months, I'll build it in one year. But definitely do it.” — Suzannah Raff [0:11:02]

“The telltale signs would be really reading the ingredients: If it's an ingredient that you understand, then you know it's clean, if it's an ingredient that you don't understand, [it’s not] and definitely look out for fragrance.” — Suzannah Raff [0:16:47]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Suzannah Raff

Cleo+Coco

Think Dirty App

EWG

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

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Have you ever had a thought that stopped you in your tracks and made you question your own sanity? Well, you are not alone! In today’s episode of She’s A Full-On Monet, we are discussing intrusive thoughts and how to handle them. Tuning in, you’ll hear how to redirect pesky thoughts, the importance of distinguishing between an intrusive thought and a thought that may be potentially dangerous in action, and when thoughts like these are most likely to appear. We also delve into how intrusive thoughts can be a form of control, when to seek professional help, and the shame that accompanies these thoughts, as well as how to handle intrusive thoughts in children. Finally, we discuss why impulsive reactions are problematic and should be avoided. To hear all about the importance of discussing mental health and why intrusive thoughts are mostly normal, join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

The shame that accompanies mental health issues and keeps people from asking for help.
How the conversation has changed around mental health since we were in school.
The importance of being kind to people because we are unaware of their struggles.
Why you have to tell your children when you’re having a hard time.
One of the most ignored mental health issues: intrusive thoughts.
How to handle intrusive thoughts: distract yourself and redirect your thoughts.
Why we must distinguish between those having the thought and those planning to action it.
When intrusive thoughts are most likely to appear: in moments of feeling overwhelmed.
Kelly’s experience with her colic baby and the physical effect a crying baby has on its mother.
How intrusive thoughts can be a form of control.
The point at which intrusive thoughts become something dangerous.
When to seek professional help to work out what is rational and logical and what isn’t.
The shame that accompanies intrusive thoughts.
How to handle intrusive thoughts with children.
Why impulsive reactions are never good reactions.
The importance of being ‘in the know’ with your children.

Tweetables:

“We really never know what's going on in other people's minds unless they tell us.” — Kelly Castillo [0:06:28]

“In your mind, you can have all sorts of scenarios happen and they're only in your mind. It's when you act on them or do something about it or those start to manifest into thinking it’s what you must do, then that becomes a really unsafe space to be.” — Megan Block [0:14:52]

“Sometimes the thoughts, especially if they're repeated, plant seeds in your head of what's possible.” — Kelly Castillo [0:27:29]

“We start to normalize the radical when we're in a moment of almost fight or flight. So, just see that as a sign that you need to get some help, whatever that form is.” — Megan Block [0:29:17]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Welcome back to She’s a Full on Monet! Tune in to hear a list of productivity hacks from two hyper-productive people - Megan and Kelly! From being kind to yourself and saying no, to cultivating gratitude, getting enough rest, and building routines in your life, today’s episode equips you with practical tools to optimize your productivity and improve your life. You’ll hear how Megan and Kelly have benefitted from each habit they list today, with kids, work, and relationships with their significant others in the mix. Tune in to hear some powerful tips on how to reduce mental clutter and thrive today.

Key Points From This Episode:

Today’s topic: productivity hacks.
The trait of hyper productivity that Megan and Kelly share.
Introducing the list of productivity hacks that we will talk about today.
Hack number one: the value of taking breaks and being kind to yourself.
The challenge of setting boundaries for yourself while you are in the zone.
Tip Number two: say no!
How the pandemic influenced all our capacity to say no to things that don’t serve us.
Hack number three: make a gratitude list.
The influence of listing what she is thankful for on Megan’s perspective.
Kelly’s experience of guiding her kids to redirect their energy to something positive.
Practical ways to tap into positivity and happiness include playlists, photos, emails, and more.
The power of unloading your struggles on someone you can trust.
Why rage cleaning is so effective.
Tip number four: get enough sleep and take breaks.
Taking physical breaks from your work to reset your productivity within the day.
Hack number five: get into a rhythm or routine.
Making sure you are prepared by building habits into your tasks.
Our final tip: do one thing at a time.
How much more likely you are to finish something if you do it in one sitting.
Whether or not multitasking has a place.
Prioritizing according to what is most urgent.
Navigating having different priorities to your partner or coworker.
How this list intends to minimize your mental clutter.
An invitation to send your productivity hacks our way.
How Kelly and Megan have learned to always be prepared through raising kids.

Tweetables:

“I’ve noticed that when I’m having a day where I’m irritated, or I feel overwhelmed, or I’m just kind of down, making a list of all the things I have to be grateful for has really helped me to change my perspective and keep things positive and understand that whatever happened that day is so temporary.” — Megan Block [0:16:48]

“Wherever you pour your thought and your energy into, that’s where it’s going to flow.” — Kelly Castillo [0:18:05]

“Do something today that you’ll thank yourself for tomorrow.” — Kelly Castillo [0:33:32]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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An unrealistic expectation has been created for women everywhere: the idea of ‘having it all.’ This dangerous narrative is one that women everywhere are struggling to keep up with! Today on She’s a Full On Monet, we discuss why the idea of ‘having it all’ is a myth that is impossible to fulfill. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Kelly’s self-care took a knock when she tried to have it all, how difficult social media makes managing these expectations, and why prioritizing your children is having it all. We also discuss how our own personal trauma affects what we want to protect our children from, why financial freedom does not make you happy, and the dangers of comparison. You’ll hear all about the importance of being comfortable with who you are and eradicating negative thoughts about yourself before we show you how you can try to figure out what is important to you. To find out what ‘having it all’ means to you, join us now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Discussing our Fourth of July plans.
Why ‘having it all’ is an impossible myth we are made to believe.
What Kelly slacked on when she was trying to ‘have it all:’ her own self-care.
Why prioritizing your children is ‘having it all.’
How social media has made things difficult when it comes to raising children.
The pressure of feeling everything has to be picture-perfect in your home.
How our trauma affects what we want to protect our children from.
Why financial freedom does not equate to happiness.
The dangers of comparing your ‘success’ with that of the people around you.
The importance of being comfortable with yourself.
How Kelly made the switch from needing everything to be perfect to focusing on happiness alone.
How toxic negative thoughts about yourself are and the dangerous cycle it creates.
Encouraging listeners to do an exercise to help you figure out what is important to you.
How Covid helped us to really see the things we were only doing out of obligation.

Tweetables:

“If you make your whole life about your career, and your kids, and then one or both of those things comes to an end, it's really jarring.” — Kelly Castillo [0:04:34]

“That's where I prioritize my time because, to me, when I think of having it all, it’s being present for my children.” — Megan Block [0:07:23]

“It's about, what do you think in your mind is having it all?” — Megan Block [0:08:54]

“I think everybody puts emphasis on things that maybe don't hold as much weight as we think they do.” — Kelly Castillo [0:10:37]

“Comparison is the biggest thief of happiness in our lives.” — Kelly Castillo [0:18:35]

“I feel like the more we're in tune with what we truly think is important to our soul and the core of who we are, that's when we can actually prioritize if we've "made it" or not, right?” — Megan Block [0:29:06]

“People just need to do what feels right for them. We need to release ourselves from any kind of expectations that society, or social media, or any other thing has put on them, and just do what feels right for you and your family. Because it is a very individual thing.” — Kelly Castillo [0:32:39]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She

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Attraction is anything but one-dimensional! Today, we’re going to talk about the different types of attraction, the complexity in the ways they overlap and evolve, and how they play out in our relationships. I’m sure you’ll agree that, especially as we age, we can no longer rely solely on physical attraction, which is why we think it’s crucial to have a foundation of emotional attraction in lifelong partnerships! In this episode, we break down the five attraction styles we’ve identified in our lives: physical, emotional, sexual, aesthetic, and romantic attraction. We discuss how different people prioritize different types, and we share which we find to be the most significant. Tune in to find out how asexuality proves the irrelevance of sexual attraction in long-term relationships, how aesthetic attraction breeds comparison, and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic: The complexities of attraction!
The importance of emotional attraction versus physical attraction in a partnership.
Defining sexual attraction and asexuality.
How asexuality proves the irrelevance of sexual attraction in long-term relationships.
The difference between sexual attraction and physical attraction.
What aesthetic attraction is and how it can lead to comparison.
The phenomenon of being drawn to opposite aesthetics from our own.
The importance of appreciating aesthetics without feeling the need to emulate them.
How romantic attraction can build over time (and sneak up on you!)
How different people prioritize different types of attraction.
How technology has shifted the focus from romantic to physical or sexual attraction.
Why it’s important not to choose a partner based solely on looks.
What we are personally attracted to!
Emotional attraction in both romantic and platonic relationships.
Acknowledging that different people (or pets) in your life can fulfill different emotional needs.
The importance of identifying the type of attraction you feel for others and being open to different types of attraction!

Tweetables:

“If all you have in your relationship is physical attraction, it's not going to have the longevity that it's going to need to really go the distance.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:36]

“The fact that people who are asexual can build and develop really meaningful lifelong, intimate relationships with other people, explains how irrelevant sexual attraction is to long-term relationships.” — Kelly Castillo [0:08:40]

“You can appreciate things aesthetically and be attracted to things for what they are and not feel like you need to incorporate that into your life.” — Megan Block [0:17:10]

“Aesthetic attraction lends itself to comparison. We don't want to do that, because we can appreciate things and not need to emulate them.” — Kelly Castillo [0:23:07]

“How we move forward in relationships and make them deeper is by having this emotional vulnerability, attraction, or connection with other people.” — Kelly Castillo [0:46:47]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discus

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It might be a case of someone saying the wrong thing or falling through on an important commitment but, more often than not, adult friendships tend to come to a close with both parties gradually drifting apart. Regardless of how it happens, ending a friendship can be just as painful and confusing as breaking up with a romantic partner, if not more, so why don’t we talk about it more often? Today’s episode tackles this difficult topic by looking at some of the reasons adult friendships end, how to know when it’s the right time to pull the plug, and how to navigate conflict resolution, awkward moments, and difficult seasons. We also touch on the importance of putting in the work, the value of maintaining friendships through the different chapters in your life, and why we believe you should give people the opportunity to surprise you, plus so much more! Every relationship gives you the opportunity to grow and learn something new. Tune in today to hear our perspective on adult friendships, why they end, and what you can learn about yourself (and others) in the process!

Key Points From This Episode:

Some of the reasons that Kelly’s adult friendships have come to an end.
The importance of learning to navigate through conflict in friendships.
Why closure and open, honest communication are so important to Megan.
Dealing with different conflict resolution styles.
The value of making friendship a priority, even when there is distance between you.
Strategies for addressing conflict if confronting someone is too difficult; write them a letter!
Why we believe our relationships are meant to facilitate growth and joy, not negativity.
How adult friendships can ebb and flow depending on what is happening in your life.
Kelly tells the story of ending a friendship that didn’t align with her values.
How envy or personal dissatisfaction can manifest as gossip about others.
Why Kelly believes that your friends deserve to know why the friendship is ending.
Learning to navigate the awkward moments and difficult periods in adult friendships.
The deep connections you can build if you put in the work.
Maintaining friendships through the different chapters in your life.
The value of giving people the opportunity to surprise you; have that difficult conversation!

Tweetables:

“I don't know any friendships, good friendships, that are based on things that are real that don't have conflict at [some point]. You need to be able to navigate through that just like you would in any relationship.” — Megan Block [0:07:09]

“It's okay to outgrow people. It’s okay for the circumstances to change and for you not to be as close as you once were. It doesn't need to be dramatic. It doesn't need to be the end of everything.” — Kelly Castillo [0:20:40]

“Sometimes, people are in your life because there's a lesson there that you need to learn or some growth opportunity for you in your soul. If we only care about people that are easy to care about, then we're not growing.” — Kelly Castillo [0:24:37]

“It's easy to only have the people around you and socialize with the people that fit your current version of your story, but we have so many different chapters of our life.” — Megan Block [0:43:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode 47: Making Friends as an Adult

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on In

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Grief is a part of life. We’ve experienced it, you’ve experienced it, and no matter how hard you may try to keep your children sheltered from it, they will experience it too. From something as minor as the death of a pet fish to something as traumatic as the death of a friend, there is a wide range of emotions that your children may experience after a loss. As parents or caregivers, it is so important to be able to hold space for your children’s grief, which can be a major challenge when you are experiencing grief at the same time. In this episode, we share some of the approaches that have been most helpful for us when walking alongside our children during their journeys with loss and grief. Every individual is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but we hope that you take away some valuable insights from this episode for dealing with grief-stricken times.

Key Points From This Episode:

The shocking number of mass shootings that have taken place this year in the US.
Examples of losses that can cause major grief for children.
The wide range of emotions that children may experience after a loss.
Books as a tool for dealing with a loss and the emotions attached to it.
Value in seeking external support for your children when they are dealing with a loss.
Losses that Kelly’s children have experienced, and how she approached talking to them about it.
Some of our earliest memories relating to loss.
Benefits of getting back into a routine as quickly as possible after a loss.
The process that Megan went through after losing her mom.
How dealing with loss can affect your relationships with other people.
Why it is so important for teenagers to talk about their grief (if not to you, then to someone else).
Examples of how the way you handle your grief in front of your children can impact them.
What to say and what not to say to your children when they have experienced a loss.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

A Little SPOT of Anxiety

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

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We are all too often reminded of how messages in the media impact our children. Sometimes, though, we forget about the messages we impart on them as parents. Believe it or not, the way you talk about your own body plays a very important role in how your child perceives themselves, which is why, in today’s episode, we’re diving into how you can model healthy behavior, thinking, and lifestyle choices for them so that they don’t continue the cycle of negative self-talk and poor body image later in life! Tune in as we discuss the influence of social media, the value of promoting strength rather than weight loss, and the importance of celebrating individuality, self-expression, and a diverse range of body types, as well as why it’s critical that you acknowledge and address your own unconscious biases, plus so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

How messaging about body image has changed since Kelly and Megan were kids.
Our experiences of body image and diet culture in our homes growing up.
The role that puberty played in Kelly’s awareness of her body.
Megan highlights how social media filters can impact a child’s perception of themselves.
Messages about body image that we project as parents without saying anything.
Why Megan is intentional about promoting strength, not weight loss.
Kelly on the types of food you make available to your children and the impact it has.
Why the old adage, “Everything in moderation,” is key here!
Negative self-talk and the influence it has on our children from a very early age.
The importance of celebrating individuality, self-expression, and diverse body types.
Reflecting on the influence that the pandemic had on our personal style.
Why it’s critical to understand and address your own unconscious biases.
The value of complimenting your children on the things they have worked to accomplish, not their physical appearance!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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While we have touched on this topic many times, today we dive into the important subject of making time for yourself. In this episode, we discuss why it’s so important to make time, not just for hobbies and friends, but to actually just be alone and have your own ‘me time’. While this can be about self-care, pampering, or, as one of our recent articles suggested, taking yourself on a date, it can also be about just taking a break or going for a kid-free walk around Target. Tuning in, you’ll hear about how, unlike men, we as women often lose our identities as we take on the roles of wife, mother, or career roles, and we often find ourselves compromising and not getting to do the things we enjoy. We discuss how we tend to wait for the right moment to prioritize ourselves but it never comes, how it’s so easy to postpone ‘me time’ if anyone else happens to need something from us, and how depletion tends to sneak up on us because of this. To discover what we’re modeling to our children when we take ‘me time’, why it’s okay to ask others to free us up in order to do this, and the benefits of disconnecting from our phones when we do, as well as many other helpful tips to help us all find balance and avoid burnout, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic: making time for yourself.
The importance of learning to feel comfortable alone in public.
Kelly’s love for traveling on her own and why she enjoys it so much.
Megan’s love for going to Disneyland alone.
The addictive nature of scheduling time for yourself.
How we often compromise and don’t get to do the things we enjoy.
How depletion sneaks up on us if we don’t prioritize ‘me time’.
Thoughts on how we as women often lose our identities as we take on the roles of wife, mother, or career roles, and how men don’t seem to struggle as much.
How we tend to wait for the right moment to prioritize ourselves but it never comes.
How it’s so easy to postpone ‘me time’ if anyone else happens to need something of us.
Kelly reflects on how sad it is that she never does a number of things that she really enjoys.
Thoughts on how the grind of trying to just get to a point of contentment is exhausting.
Why you need to be realistic with your ‘me time’.
How our hosts’ mothers' inabilities to take time for themselves affected them as children.
What we’re modeling to our children when we take ‘me time’.
The benefits of disconnecting from our phones when we take 'me time’.
What Kelly does when she feels depleted.
The benefits of slowing down if you can’t take a break altogether.
How Kelly would allow her kids to take mental health days but not herself.
Why it’s okay to ask others to free you up for some ‘me time’.
Why you shouldn’t wait for others to do it for you but do it for yourself
Let us know what you do to best enjoy your ‘me time’.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Emotional burnout can come in many different forms. You can suffer burnout from working too hard, from the stress of caring for a sick relative, from expending all of your energy on your children. No matter the reason, there are some common symptoms that occur when you are emotionally burnt out. These include irritation, a lack of motivation, an unhealthy relationship with food, and exhaustion, among others. We’ve experienced all of them, and you probably have too, or you will at some point in your life. Although these feelings may make you want to run away from the world and all your problems, we have some better ideas! Join us for this week’s episode to hear some of our suggestions for curbing emotional burnout. Even in situations where you feel like you’ll never be able to catch a break or get yourself out of your dark headspace, we believe there is always something you can do to recharge your batteries and find a little bit of joy. We hope that this episode gives you the courage to make decisions that will benefit yourself and your mental health!

Key Points From This Episode:

The context within which the term burnout is most commonly used.
Examples of the many different types of emotional burnout.
How career burnout can be dealt with.
Why helping a loved one through emotional burnout can be a very lonely, challenging time.
The importance of having a support system and some kind of outlet.
Links between your mental and physical health.
Feelings that are common amongst people experiencing burnout.
Kelly shares a personal story that highlights what emotional burnout can look like.
Emotional burnout that comes with parenting.
Unhealthy relationships with food that can develop as a result of burnout.
Advice for how to get fuel into your body without needing to cook a whole meal.
Why exhaustion is a common symptom of emotional burnout.
Examples of external systems that can provide you with respite during a time of emotional burnout.
Different forms that decompression can take.
Never be afraid of asking for, or offering, help.
The thin line between burnout and depression, and when to consider seeking professional help.
Exercise, sleep, and nutrition; how these elements can help curb burnout.
The power of gratitude.

Tweetables:

“If it's your day-to-day, and there's no escaping it, you can feel very trapped, you can feel very stuck in your space. That's not a great feeling, and it's a very lonely feeling. It's very lonely. I think it might be even lonelier if it's not your crisis, if it's someone you love going through a crisis. Because the feeling of being stuck and trapped, and wanting to escape the situation triggers feelings of guilt.” — Kelly Castillo [0:07:56]

“I think the only way to get through really tough times is if you have a support system. That can be great friends, it can be family, it can be any kind of outlet that you have.” — Kelly Castillo [0:09:35]

“When we don't feel like we have control over our environment, or our life for whatever reason, even subconsciously, we start to hyper control our body and really do extreme autonomy of our body.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:37]

“When you're on burnout, you're not thinking about what's best for you at all. You're just realizing that you are a shell of yourself and something is wrong, something is off.” — Megan Block [0:27:58]

“If you are depriving yourself of good nutrition, and foods, and possibly water, and drinking and supplementing with sugary foods and caffeine, it's only going to exacerbate your feelings and not make you feel any better. It's just going to make you feel worse.” — Megan Block [0:34:13]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

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Dating can be daunting at the best of times and even more so if you are returning to the scene after a long-term relationship or marriage. When you’re dating someone new, there’s no way to know what the other person is thinking and it's easy to assume the worst. According to experts, however, negative thoughts can be the ultimate relationship killer thanks to the tight feedback loop that exists between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. That’s why, in today’s episode, we’re sharing some tips for how to keep your brain from sabotaging your dating life, particularly if you are in the second half of your life! Listen in as Kelly and Megan reflect on how to build meaningful connections, deal with rejection, and prioritize your own happiness. We also touch on the importance of open communication, doing the work to heal your past traumas, and being kind to yourself in the process, plus so much more! Above all else, it’s important to take your time and always put your safety (and sanity) first. If you’re looking to date and find love but you aren’t sure where to start, we hope you’ll join us today for some practical advice and thought-provoking conversation!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic: Negative Thoughts While Dating!
Why dating today is harder than it used to be, particularly in the second half of your life.
How to build connections in a meaningful way by pursuing your interests and surrounding yourself with like-minded people.
Our advice for dealing with the rejection that comes with dating; remember, it’s not personal!
Why it might not be the right time to start dating if you’re going through a major life change.
The importance of prioritizing your happiness and not waiting until you have an ‘empty nest’.
Advice for dating later in life when you have children, health issues, responsibilities to your aging parents, or financial difficulties to consider.
Why open communication about these issues early on is important.
The value of doing the work to heal past traumas before embarking on a new relationship.
Finding the balance between healthy compromise and settling for less than you are worth.
Remaining open-minded, exploring niche dating sites, finding new interests, and more!
Why dating can be especially difficult for those coming out of long-term relationships.
Kelly’s advice for those reentering the dating pool: don’t force it!
While negative thoughts are inevitable, it’s about not being too hard on yourself.

Tweetables:

“The best way to meet people is to do things that interest you and put yourself in that environment around like-minded people. Then, you'll naturally make connections and you don't need to be pursuing it.” — Kelly Castillo [0:09:18]

“Happiness at any age in your life, for your own self and self-love and self-worth, is a thing and [should be] a priority.” — Megan Block [0:14:22]

“I would highly encourage anyone who's gone through a breakup, a divorce, a loss, to do the work, to heal that trauma before you move onto the next relationship.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:40]

“Dating itself as an adult can be fun because you're exploring new parts of life that you might not have ever explored or considered had you not met that person.” — Megan Block [0:34:49]

“You have to let go of what is not meant for you in order to find what the universe has for you. There is something out there for you. There's something out there for everyone. Don't force it.” — Kelly Castillo [0:39:09]

“Negative thoughts in the dating world are inevitable, but it's about not taking it too hard on yourself and knowing that there are ways to go about it; in a great way, in a fun way, in an exciting way. It's supposed to be an exciting time in our lives, no matter when it starts.” — Megan Block [0:44:02]

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With so much going on in our day-to-day lives, finding time to journal can be extra challenging, especially when you are constantly judging your own writing! In today’s episode, we unpack several helpful prompts to help you overcome writer's block and the feelings of overwhelm that can accompany an empty page. We delve into the benefits of journaling to ease anxiety and form positive new habits, and how having a prompt can make the writing process that much easier. Tuning in, you’ll hear our thoughts on some of our favorite prompts, how to use them, and why they are so useful; from reflecting on the people who make you feel the most like yourself and the power of gratitude to the benefits of asking yourself ‘how best can I love myself today?’ and how it can help you manifest positive habits that benefit your mental health. We also share our advice for anyone struggling with these exercises and provide some insight into how they’ve impacted our own lives. Journaling is a wonderful practice with many benefits and, while it may seem intimidating, these prompts can be extremely helpful in overcoming feelings of fear and anxiety. If you’re interested in starting a journaling practice, but you are unsure where to begin, then this episode is for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic: writing prompts to start your journaling journey!
Megan and Kelly’s biggest challenges in forming a journaling practice.
The benefits of having prompts for journaling.
How prompts resemble some of the questions you might encounter in therapy.
Examples of how journaling can ease anxiety.
The type of journaling that we’ll be talking about today: traditional journaling.
How a prompt to write about everything that is wrong with the world can ease anxiety.
How to curb anxious thoughts and avoid ‘catastrophizing’.
How to use the ‘I am’ prompt as a manifestation tool.
The benefits of a prompt to reflect on the people who make you feel the most like yourself.
How to find your ‘why’ through writing about your reasons for waking up in the morning.
Why we find the mornings to be the best time to journal.
The prompt ‘how best can I love myself today’ and how it can benefit your mental health.
Why no one’s job should require them to be available 24/7.
How the prompt ‘what feeds my soul and why?’ can facilitate positive mental health habits.
How journaling can help you take action and form positive habits.
Some of our advice for anyone who might be struggling with these prompts and exercises.
Why it’s okay to try lots of different things on your journey!
How to use meditation and journaling to release tension in your body.

Tweetables:

“When I'm working throughout the day, I always have a legal pad, and a pen next to me. I make notes and I doodle. I do little things that I find helpful to my mental clarity as I'm working through my day, but somehow it hasn't extended to actual journaling.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:41]

“Sometimes, in the course of mentally working through [something], I realize that the worst-case scenario is actually a better outcome for me than the stress that the situation is causing.” — Kelly Castillo [0:13:10]

“It makes you think. If you have to do it every day, it almost makes you think about ‘what else did I not think of that I can be thankful for?’ I love any time where you can list out things that make you realize how lucky we are.” — Megan Block [0:23:06]

“Your perspective is really what determines how comfortable or happy you are in the moment because it's all about how you look at things.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:04]

“There's something about writing it down and journaling that makes it manifest into action. [Thinking it] is one thing, but putting it out there for you to read out lou

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Making friends as an adult is a daunting task and one that can be hard to even talk about! Join us today as Megan and Kelly break down the barriers most of us feel prevent us from making friends as an adult, bringing a lightheartedness to a deep-seated worry that many of us are too afraid to admit. We dive into the discussion with how the phase of life that we are in impacts the ease with which we make friends, and what the role of a friend is. From why it's not a good idea to try to make and maintain friendships when you're in a busy phase of life to the different approaches to emotions and topics of discussion between two friends, this episode has it all. We hear how both Megan and Kelly have struggled to make friends, and how Megan overcame it. We also discover some great tips on how to go about making friends as an adult, such as joining a group of like-minded individuals in a social activity, to simply starting a conversation with someone you see regularly. We discuss the horrors of small talk, and how to cope when faced with someone less friendly than you! So, if you’re looking to learn how to add a friend to your naturally diminishing social circle, join us for this fabulous discussion.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic: making friends as an adult!
How the ease with which we make friends changes over different phases of life.
Why it’s not fair to try and make or maintain friendships when you’re in a busy phase of life.
The importance of having friends outside of your partner or family: nourishing different pieces of you.
Facing down the Mom guilt to take time for yourself.
How friends who handle emotions differently can benefit each other, and why it’s important not to change them.
The first tip on how to make friends as an adult: find a shared interest group.
Why it’s crucial to put yourself out there, and advice on how to start a conversation.
The types of groups that are best suited to making friends.
Megan and Kelly’s horror stories of small talk, and how to survive it!
Understanding the seasons of life and how these affect your friendships.
The second tip on opening communication: picking the right topic and tone.
Why relying on family for friendship is not a good idea.
A wrap of today’s episode, and a call to send in your bestie meet-cute!

Tweetables:

“If it's not a group of people that you see every day for a reason like at school or at work or something like that, it can be really hard to not only make those friendships but maintain them.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:47]

“I’m really big on effort and I don’t think that the label ‘Best friend’ is just a given thing. I think it's an earned thing, and I think it's something that you showcase on a consistent basis.” — Megan Block [0:07:56]

“There's so many pieces to us, that we're not just a mom, we're not just a wife, we're not just whatever. You need adult friends so that you can feel that piece of you so that when you come back home, you're a more well-rounded person. Because I think a lot of resentment can build up when you don't have that piece of you.” — Megan Block [0:10:33]

“[Adult friendship is] one of those things where you just after being around someone's energy and talking to them, you just know and then it grows from there, or sometimes, it doesn’t.” — Megan Block [0:20:34]

“When you make an adult friend, it's like a little flex.” — Megan Block [0:26:24]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Step Brothers

Euphoria

Revel

Mothers of Preschoolers

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If you’ve ever moved house, you’ll know that it can be a complete nightmare. Moving vans are too small, boxes break, the lights take a week to come on; if any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. But moving doesn’t have to be this way! In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan, who are both experienced movers (who have managed to successfully move house with young children in tow!), share their top tips for making the process of moving as smooth, budget-friendly, and enjoyable (if enjoyable is a word that can be used to describe moving) as possible. From the first things that you should start planning when you decide to move house, to the logistics of the actual move itself, all the way through to your first night in your new home, this episode covers it all, and if you’ve got a move coming up, you may want to take notes!

Key Points From This Episode:

The recent moves that Kelly has coordinated.
Kelly explains the process they went through to move everything out of their house so that their major renovations could be done.
Tip number one when planning a move: get rid of stuff that you don’t need!
Benefits of a minimalist lifestyle.
Why Kelly hangs things up backwards.
Examples of what you can do with the things that you don’t use regularly (e.g. holiday decorations).
When it comes to clothes, quality over quantity is the way to go.
Why you should try to find free boxes, and then donate them afterwards.
Packing early versus marathon packing.
What to do as soon as you know you are moving: get utilities scheduled for your new place, and book a van.
Why we love using wardrobe boxes when moving.
Tips for wrapping breakables on a budget.
The best places to buy boxes.
Don’t underestimate the importance of taping your boxes properly.
The experience that taught Kelly the value of having hard copies of everything when moving or traveling.
How Kelly makes sure she knows exactly where all of her items are when they are in storage.
Our top tip for unpacking in your new space: finish one room before starting another!
What you should expect from your first night in your new home.
Top tips for moving or traveling with children.
Prepare, prepare, prepare (but don’t over-prepare!).
Why you shouldn’t ever feel bad to ask for help when moving.

Tweetables:

“The free boxes on Craigslist or Next Door are always a hit and people will come pick them up from your porch. People are so thankful for that. Don’t trash them. Absolutely not.” — Kelly Castillo [0:20:57]

“The best thing to do that you can do early is get your utilities scheduled for your new place. Most people underestimate the amount of time that can take. So schedule that, and book your move early.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:34]

“Get the tape dispenser with the big handle. It's life changing. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when you're packing 35 boxes in one day and you have the roll without the dispenser, and you're trying to find out where the end of it is.” — Kelly Castillo [0:29:41]

“Pack heavier things on the bottom of the box, lighter things on the top of the box. But if you have any weight to those boxes, and you just do the one strip of tape across the bottom, you are asking for trouble. So definitely reinforce your boxes. You need the right equipment. You need sturdy boxes, good tape.” — Kelly Castillo [0:33:34]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Create A Vision Board That’ll Make All Your 2022 Dreams Come True

Canva

Kelly Castillo

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With Earth Day coming up, and the scary weather parts of the USA are experiencing at the moment, there has been a shift in awareness about the importance of helping the planet. Join us today as we break down the simplest ways that you can modify your diet to reduce your carbon footprint! We start the episode with a celebration of Megan's birthday, and how Kelly taught her to appreciate the special day. We move on to the idea of Earth Day, and how it inspired Kelly and Megan to start the conversation about reducing your carbon footprint. For most of us, thinking beyond our immediate family to include the planet is a challenge, but with today's simple tips, you can make small changes that have a big impact. From eating less red meat and dairy to meal-prepping to eating local and seasonal, even making just one of these changes will help Mother Earth. We hear the small changes Kelly and Megan have made in their own lives, and the challenges they have faced along the way. So, for an inspiring discussion about how to make reducing your carbon footprint fun and sustainable, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Celebrating birthdays: how Kelly taught Megan to enjoy the special day!
How Earth Day prompted today’s topic.
The small changes that Kelly made to help the planet, and why it’s hard for most people to think about the planet as a whole.
Eating less red meat: the first of today’s tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint.
How the texture of certain foods can affect your desire to eat them.
Why cutting out one red meat meal a week can help the planet.
How to reduce your dairy product intake, and why Kelly and Megan don’t like dairy-free ice cream.
Tip number three to save the planet: reducing your food waste, and how to do this!
Why preparation is key in all aspects of life.
The fourth way to cut down on your carbon footprint: not using single-use plastic.
Kelly’s experience reusing food containers as a kid, and the better solutions available now.
Why avoiding the middle of the grocery store is good for your health and the environment.
Considering the transport and cooking processes involved in the groceries you are buying.
Today’s final tip: growing your own food!
How to make a bee-friendly water bowl.
The importance of setting goals that you can achieve, and committing to Earth Day as a day for change.

Tweetables:

“Like all the things that we talk about on this podcast, the more alert and awake we are to things, the more we want to do something about it, instead of just sit on it.” — Megan Block [0:03:06]

“The agriculture industry of livestock farming contributes about 15% to 18% of all of the greenhouse gas emissions of the world. So, that's a pretty big number.” — Kelly Castillo [0:06:58]

“Here's the other thing, you have to be realistic. If you don't have more than 20 minutes to prepare a meal every night and you're going out and buying something that's going to take 40 minutes to prepare, it's probably going to go to waste.” — Megan Block [0:22:41]

“There's something to preparing. I feel like no matter what we talk about, no matter the subject of our podcast, it always comes down to preparation is key.” — Megan Block [0:26:18]

“Life is what you make it.” — Megan Block [0:46:51]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Garden Burger

Beyond Meat

Impossible Food

Daiya

Green Chef

Hello Fresh

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Every child is unique, and it has long been our philosophy that every child should be parented on an individual level, according to their specific needs. Today on the show we discuss the concept of the orchid child and the dandelion child, based on the research from Dr. Thomas Boyce’s book The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive. Tuning in you’ll learn about some of the characteristics that define an orchid child, versus a dandelion child. While dandelions can grow almost anywhere, orchids need very specific conditions to thrive. Similarly, dandelion children are much less sensitive to the stressors of life than orchid children. In our conversation, we discuss what it's been like raising both orchid and dandelion children, some of the conditions that can help orchid children thrive, and how to relate to an orchid child if you yourself are a dandelion. We delve into how the fight-or-flight response can be triggered in children, the role of the stress hormone cortisol, and some of the long-term health effects that can come with a heightened sensitivity to stress. We also discuss the role that shame and stigma play in supporting our children and friends who struggle with mental health, and why we’re least likely to ask for help when we need it most. To learn more about this important topic and how best to support your orchid child, make sure you tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic about parenting and Dr. Thomas Boyce’s book The Orchid and The Dandelion.
Examples of unintended neglect in parenting and the long-term impact that can have.
The difference between orchid and dandelion children.
How dandelion children are more resilient while orchid children are more sensitive.
Why dandelion and orchid children need to be parented differently.
The importance of having an individual approach to parenting each of your children.
What Dr. Boyce’s study revealed about stress responses in children.
The flight-or-fight response in children, the release of cortisol, and how it affects their learning abilities.
Some of the health issues that can arise from stressful environments.
Why orchid children are more sensitive to stress and the long-term effects this can have on their health.
The differences between adults who are more sensitive and less sensitive, and how you can build resilience.
How to understand your orchid child if you aren’t sensitive in the same way.
Kelly’s experiences with raising an orchid child and the important lessons it’s taught her about humility and mental health challenges.
Why we’re the least likely to reach out when we need help the most.
The energy and hard work that it takes to parent as your full authentic self.

Tweetables:

“When you have an Orchid child, you don't necessarily try and force a dandelion type of personality on them. You adjust and specifically address them in that fashion. Don’t try to push being a dandelion on them, because it's easier for you.” — Megan Block [0:15:08]

“If you have orchid children, what do you do? I know that my orchid children do best when they have a routine that they're familiar with and that they know what to expect from day to day.” — Kelly Castillo [0:21:05]

“I had no mental health issues, I had no addiction issues, it was never something that I had faced, but having someone that you love more than anything in the whole world, dealing with those is humbling. It teaches you a lot about the frailty of human nature” — Kelly Castillo [00:37:50]

“All we all want as people is to feel seen and heard and feel loved for who we are. So, any time we're trying to change our child's nature is probably a time to reevaluate” — Kelly Castillo [0:57:18]

“We definitely want to make sure we tailor our respons

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Today, we’re talking about what it means to “hold space for someone.” We start off by defining this phrase and how it is different from simply being there for someone or being supportive, before exploring why this can be so difficult and how hard it is not to jump in and problem-solve or offer your own experiences as a way to connect. You’ll hear about the challenges of being fully present, the importance of being non-judgmental, and how to hold space when someone’s situation is triggering for you. We also discuss how to determine if someone wants to vent or if they want advice, why you should avoid offering advice unless asked for it, and how to go about offering unsolicited advice in a tactful way, as well as why you should be very cautious when offering advice on personal relationships! Holding space for someone is not something that comes easily to a lot of people, but doing this well can be a valuable life skill. We all need someone who can hold space for us, so tune in today for this insightful discussion!

Key Points From This Episode:

Today's topic: the phrase “holding space for someone” and what this means.
The challenge of not problem-solving or offering your own experiences as a way to connect.
Why you don’t have to have been through something similar to hold space for someone.
Megan shares an example of a friend who doesn’t know how to hold space and always ends up needing more support than they give.
How to determine if your kids want to vent or if they want advice.
The first step to holding space for someone: be fully present.
The importance of being nonjudgmental.
How to hold space when someone’s situation is triggering for you.
What it felt like for Megan and Kelly to have parents who were not good at holding space.
Kelly’s pet peeve when opening up to someone: when they devalue your feelings.
Thoughts on how you have the right to feel your feelings.
How difficult it can be to hold space for people.
Why you should try to avoid offering advice unless asked for it.
How to go about offering unsolicited advice in a tactful way.
Why you should always be very cautious when offering advice on personal relationships!
The benefits of therapy.
The importance of protecting your own emotional energy and Kelly’s three-time rule.
People who are exempt from the three-time rule and why certain people should be accepted into our lives, regardless of where they are at.
Tips for how to empower people to solve their own problems.

Tweetables:

“We all have strengths and weaknesses. If someone is coming to you and they’re talking to you about something that is a weakness [or] a vulnerability, you have to set your judgments to the side so that you can be fully present and hold space for that person.” — Kelly Castillo [0:15:11]

“We want that person in our life that we care about to know that we are there for them on all levels.” — Megan Block [0:16:54]

“If someone comes to you asking for your input about their personal relationships, think hard about whether or not to answer that because they’re going to do what they want to do at the end of the day—regardless of what you say—but they will remember what you said!” — Kelly Castillo [0:31:10]

“Everybody needs just one. If you can be that one person [for them, then] chances are they can be that one person for you. It’s really nice when you have that person because life throws you some crazy stuff and you don’t want to feel like you have to walk through it alone.” — Megan Block [0:34:45]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A

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In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that matters is how we choose to react to those circumstances and what we make out of them. Today, we share the parable of the potato, the egg, and the coffee beans to illustrate some of the different ways that you can respond to adversity in your life. When introduced to boiling water, the tough, unrelenting potato becomes soft and weak. The egg, with its fragile shell protecting its gooey interior, becomes hardened and tough. However, the coffee beans are unique. When exposed to boiling water, they adapt and change the water around them to create something new and remarkable. We believe that this is a universally applicable analogy, no matter what your life experience is. We are all occasionally put in ‘hot water’ and forced to choose how to respond. Maybe you’re starting a particularly challenging project, dealing with a difficult relationship, or you have to take on a responsibility that you weren’t prepared for. Whatever it is, we hope you’ll join us today to learn more about the value of vulnerability, adaptability, and practicing gratitude, plus so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

How the potato responds to boiling water, which represents adversity, by turning soft.
What it might look like if you are a potato that clings to your illusion of control.
Megan highlights how the pandemic tested each of us in different, unique ways.
How a fragile egg responds to boiling water by becoming tough and hard.
Kelly shares how she relates with the egg and struggles with vulnerability.
Understanding that how you respond to adversity can evolve.
The value of setting yourself free from the things you can’t control.
Reflecting on the pressure we have both felt to be the ‘perfect’ parents.
How the coffee beans represent the people who adapt and grow with every hardship.
Remembering that “this too shall pass” and the benefits of practicing gratitude.
The value of finding a balance between the three different approaches.
A reminder that letting go and moving on from deep trauma can be much more difficult.
Why we emphasize the importance of having a strong support network.
Kelly explains how building resilience can serve you when you go through hard times.
We discuss our potential to respond to adversity differently at different stages in our lives.
Share whether you think you’re a potato, an egg, or coffee on our Facebook group!

Tweetables:

“Hardships and adversities and troubles in our lives are always going to be there. We can't control that. We can really only control how we respond to them.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:47]

“The minute you set yourself free of the things that you can't control, whether it's life's algorithm or social media’s algorithm, it’s a very nice feeling, because there's no such thing as perfect.” — Megan Block [0:19:17]

“The coffee represents the people who understand and accept that they're never going to be free of adversity. They don't necessarily embrace it, but they adapt and grow with every hardship. When you boil coffee, the coffee and the water both change for the better.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:37]

“Difficult times are going to come to everybody at some point of their life. If you start building resilience and tolerance for the little inconveniences that we deal with on a regular basis then, when bigger things come up, you'll have more tools in your toolbox.” — Kelly Castillo [0:45:15]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She'

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As anyone who has experienced a migraine will tell you: it’s not just a headache! Unlike the common headache, migraines are actually the result of an underlying neurological disorder that more than 29 million Americans suffer from, with symptoms including nausea, increased sensitivity to light, dizziness, and extreme fatigue. So, how do migraine sufferers find relief from this debilitating disease? In today’s episode, we cover different treatment options that might offer relief from migraines, from over-the-counter medication to avoiding certain environmental triggers, and we touch on the benefits of tracking your cycle, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep, as well as eliminating eye strain and having a consistent exercise routine, plus so much more! If you’re looking for some practical tips for migraine relief, make sure not to miss today’s episode with Kelly and Megan!

Key Points From This Episode:

The difference between a headache and a migraine, which is a neurological disorder.
Common foods and environmental conditions that can trigger migraines.
What we’ve found helpful to relieve headaches, including CBD oil and acupressure therapy.
Why you should seek professional advice if you are suffering from chronic headaches.
The value of keeping a ‘migraine diary’ where you record your specific triggers.
Why we recommend tracking your cycle and any fluctuations in your hormones.
Understanding why proper hydration is key.
We reflect on how the younger generation is much more aware of staying hydrated.
How an elimination diet can help you determine which foods trigger your migraines.
The app Kelly uses to track her vitamin and nutrient intake.
Learn more about the relationship between sleep and migraines.
Methods you can use to help you stay hydrated if you don’t like the taste of water.
Eliminating eye strain and excessive blue light, which are common migraine triggers.
How an ice pack on the back of your neck can help when you feel a migraine coming on.
The benefits of consistent exercise, including to help reduce stress.
Megan emphasizes the importance of taking a break and looking after your mental health.
Why we generally advocate for preventative measures over medication.
The importance of having a good relationship with your doctor; you need to feel heard!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

‘How To Prevent Migraines: Advice From Chronic Migraine Sufferers’

Chronometer

Theragun

Goody’s Powder

Vanquish

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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As everyone knows, building a new habit is a difficult endeavor. However, there are ways that you can make it a whole lot easier and more enjoyable for yourself, and that’s what we’re going to be discussing today! Both of us have had our lives changed by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and in this episode we’re going to be distilling the main concepts from the book, which is all about breaking old habits and starting new ones. As explained in more detail in the book, rather than focusing on a big end goal, it’s a much more effective strategy to focus on making small choices on a daily basis which will then compound until you reach your desired result. Whatever your goals are, there are four steps to building a new habit; make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, make it satisfying. These may sound simple, but sometimes we need a bit of motivation and some practical strategies to kick ourselves into gear, and that is exactly what we are going to provide you with today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Our thoughts on the podcast hitting 40!
Atomic Habits; the book which really helped us shift our mindset.
Negative versus positive self talk.
The importance of understanding what you do, and do not, have control over in your life.
Two questions that Atomic Habits author, James Clear, wants you to ask yourself.
An overview of the four steps involved in building new habits.
Using some real world examples to demonstrate how to put the four steps into practice.
Explaining the concept of an ‘accountability partner.’
Small rewards to give yourself that will make your habit building experience more satisfying.
What ‘habit stacking’ is, and how it makes it easier to achieve your goals.
How we have incorporated habit stacking into our lives (and the lives of our family members).
The steps for breaking an old habit, and examples of what these look like in the real world.
Value that lies in creating a ‘habit contract,’
How to implement ‘The Goldilocks Rule.’

Tweetables:

“Tiny, little micro changes compound over time and create a whole new version of ourselves.” — Megan Block [0:05:37]

“Negative self-talk is exactly the opposite of what will help you break the bad habits, or build the good habits.” — Megan Block [0:06:53]

“Stop focusing so much on the specific goal and focus on the systems that you can put in place that will help you achieve that goal.” — Megan Block [0:09:25]

“We stay motivated when we're challenged. We want to make sure we continue to move the goal post on our habits farther and farther. It needs to be attainable. It can't be some crazy dream circumstance. It needs to be attainable, achievable, and quantifiable. We have to be able to measure it. But it needs to be something that's just at the top of our capability level. Just at the edge of it.” — Kelly Castillo [0:53:58]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Modern cultural norms around menstruation have drastically shifted over the past few decades. These changes are especially evident in the media we consume. No longer is the topic ignored, simplified, or overlooked. Instead, you see menstruation being celebrated on social media platforms, with young people openly talking about their experiences, and sometimes in very candid detail! The same is true for advertising and entertainment. These days, adverts for sanitary products are extremely direct, and it’s more common than ever to see fictional characters experiencing an altercation with their period that would’ve been unheard of thirty years ago. Despite these advances, there are still some persistent myths about menstruation, like the myth that periods are meant to be painful or that any cycle that deviates from 28 days is abnormal. Today on the show we tackle some of these myths and take a closer look at the truth behind the legend. Tuning in you’ll hear Megan and Kelly discuss their experiences with menstruation growing up, how this has influenced their approach to menstruation when it comes to raising and educating their daughters, and how young people today are approaching conversations around menstruation. We also cover some of the myths around menopause and perimenopause, and some of the small steps you can take today to start preparing for this part of your life. To learn more about this fascinating topic and much more, make sure you tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic: the myths and truths around menstruation.
The environments that Megan and Kelly grew up in and how it affected their knowledge of menstruation.
How advertising for menstrual products has shifted since the 1980s.
The sense of shame Megan and Kelly felt around menstruation when they were growing up.
How the taboos around menstruation have dissipated and become less widespread.
How Megan and Kelly communicate with their daughters about menstruation.
The type of conversations people are having about menstruation on social media.
Megan and Kelly’s observations on stigma, social norms, and representation around menopause versus menstruation.
Megan’s traumatizing first experience with a gynecologist and why his age and gender felt like a violation.
The misconception that all cycles last exactly 28 days and why that’s a myth.
Some of the reasons why your body may be skipping some of your cycles.
Insights into the myth that periods are supposed to be painful and heavy.
An overview of the spectrum of symptoms you may experience during your period, like cramping.
Why it's a myth PMS symptoms are all in your head.
How hormones affect our emotions and when to see a doctor.
The effect that hormone fluctuations can have on serotonin levels.
Some of the other methods for treating menopause, like dietary changes and supplements.
The value of strength training for women of all ages.
Why it's a myth that menopause equates to a woman’s expiration date.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Conflict is inevitable in most areas of life, whether it be at work, with family, or with your partner, and the way in which you argue can alter how you communicate. While we’ve come to understand our attachment style and which of the five love languages suits us best, our 'conflict style’ is perhaps one of the most useful human behavior patterns that we can apply to our relationships, which is why Kelly and Megan are diving into this fascinating topic in today’s episode! Tuning in, you’ll learn more about the four styles of arguing: attacking, defensive, withdrawing, and open, and the importance of having open discussions about conflict with your partner rather than bottling it all up. We also touch on how knowing more about these behavior patterns can strengthen your relationships, the invisible emotional work women oftentimes perform in the home, and the benefits of helping your partner feel heard by repeating what they are saying back to them, as well as the importance of working on yourself first, plus so much more! Make sure not to miss this interesting and informative conversation about finding a reciprocal path ahead and making room for your emotions without using accusatory language or a defensive stance!

Key Points From This Episode:

Kelly and Megan reflect on whether or not this type of ‘self-help’ or self-improvement is new.
How knowing more about these behavior patterns can strengthen your relationships.
Why an argument with your partner can sometimes feel like a personal attack.
Learn about the ‘attacking’ argument style and why it’s not the best way to resolve conflict.
Next is the ‘defensive’ style of conflict, which is the natural response to an attack.
Find out why defensiveness is just as unproductive as an attack.
The importance of having open discussions about conflict rather than bottling it all up.
We discuss the invisible emotional work that women often do in the family home.
The third conflict style, known as ‘withdrawing’, and how it can alter arguments.
Megan and Kelly share their personal experiences with withdrawing.
Lastly, we dive into the rare but dreamy conflict style: open communication!
The benefits of repeating what your partner is saying back to them in an argument.
How an open arguing style works like a cooperative project to resolve conflict.
Megan speaks candidly about how self-improvement brought her and her partner closer.
How proactively moving towards an open and productive style of conflict resolution can help the other person do the same too.
The importance of knowing, understanding, and loving yourself first.\

Tweetables:

“The more you know about your relationship style, your argument style, your love language, all these things are so beneficial.” — Megan Block [0:05:26]

“If we can teach [our kids] healthy conflict resolution skills and give them a lot of tools in their toolbox to use when they get into conflict with people, then they're going to benefit from that long term.” — Kelly Castillo [0:07:27]

“I've learned that, if I wait until it's boiled up to a point of explosion to express how I genuinely feel to my husband, he is already at a place of defensiveness.” — Megan Block [0:22:07]

“One thing you hear therapists say all the time is that, when you're having an argument with a romantic partner, to repeat back to them what they're saying, so that [you] know that they feel heard. That is a fantastic trick.” — Kelly Castillo [0:34:40]

“The open style of arguing—which is what we should all be striving for—is an argument style that's one of resolving conflict. It looks at whatever the conflict is from all the different angles, and then it works like a cooperative project.” — Kelly Castillo [0:40:17]

“Working on yourself is a lot of work already. Start there. Don't w

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There comes a time in every child’s life when they start asking questions that their parents are not quite sure how to answer. That’s why we want to take this opportunity to help you explain what love means to your children! Tuning in today, you’ll learn why the way you model love and relationships for your children is critical for their development and our tips for how to teach them about healthy conflict resolution, different love languages, and familial love versus romantic love, as well as the importance of self-love. Love is not just a word. It is a consistent string of actions towards another person that determines how we care for them, encourage them, look after them, and connect with them, which is why it’s important for your kids to understand that age-old saying, “Love is a verb!” For some practical advice on showing your children what love means by demonstrating it for them, make sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why the way we model love to our children is important for their development.
We discuss the value of having a plan for how you’re going to raise your kids.
What you teach your children about healthy relationships through your own relationships.
Modeling healthy conflict resolution and meaningful apologies for your kids.
How to help your kids understand that there are different love languages.
Why teaching your kids what love isn’t is just as important as teaching them what love is.
Kelly explains why “because I said so” is never an appropriate response.
Megan reflects on the possibility of loving her children ‘too much’.
How you can actually hinder your child’s development by doing everything for them rather than letting them figure it out on their own.
Why it’s important to have conversations about finance and budgets with your kids.
Understanding that material things can’t be equated with love (and vice versa).
The difference between familial love and romantic love; unconditional love versus the importance of putting healthy boundaries in place.
Megan shares why putting yourself first is key to how your children perceive self-love.

Tweetables:

“One of the most important ways that we teach our children about love is how we model healthy relationships to them.” — Kelly Castillo [0:07:05]

“Teaching [children] what love isn’t is just as important as teaching [them] what love is. Love shouldn’t make you feel bad about yourself. It shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t have to be a secret. It shouldn’t feel unsafe.” — Kelly Castillo [0:17:56]

“Loving yourself first shows your children and your partner a good version of what love should be. Then, you’re able to teach your children what love is because, if you don’t love yourself, how on earth are you going to teach your children what love is?” — Megan Block [0:42:01]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The 5 Love Languages

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

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In January 2022, rolls of shiny new quarters began making their way across the United States, minted with historic new imagery: renowned writer and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou; physicist and astronaut, Dr. Sally Ride; the first female Cherokee Nation chief, Wilma Mankiller; suffrage movement leader, Nina Otero-Warren; and Hollywood’s first Chinese American actress, Anna May Wong. These are the first women that the US Mint is recognizing as part of its American Women Quarters Program, a series that will issue up to five quarters annually between 2022 and 2025 to recognize pioneering American women and their contributions to history. In this episode, we discuss why these new quarters are so significant, particularly for young women and girls in the US, and the opportunity that our currency offers us to say something about our country, our values, and the progress we have made. We also touch on the backlash this decision has received, dive into the story behind each woman represented on the new quarters, and the types of conversations that we hope these coins will spark, as well as the importance of making a positive impact, no matter how small! If, like us, you’re into history, politics, and feminism, you’re sure to enjoy today’s episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

The impact of these historic new quarters for young women and girls.
Why this marks a significant time in history and the shift we’ve seen since we were kids.
Some of the backlash that the decision to put women on quarters has received.
How to customize your currency by choosing a personalized design for your credit card.
How The Who Was? Show helps Megan’s kids learn more about history.
Kelly explains how the US Mint decided on these five women with the Smithsonian Institute’s American Women’s History Initiative.
The opportunity that our currency offers to say something about our values and progress.
Learn more about Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Chinese American film star.
We dive into the history behind Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
Insight into the inclusion of Maya Angelou, who Kelly calls “the poet of our hearts."
Find out about Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
The important political contributions made by Hispanic suffragette, Nina Otero-Warren.
We reflect on the weight of responsibility that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen must have felt in making these choices for the quarters.
Literally holding change in your hands; the conversations we hope these coins will spark.
We encourage listeners to share who they would have chosen on our Facebook group!

Tweetables:

“This is a huge step in the right direction. Hopefully, that bill or act to replace Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman [on the $20 bill] will happen, because that would be really cool.” — Kelly Castillo [0:10:00]

“They didn’t have to stop at those five [likenesses]. There are so many incredible women in history. If you were going to replace the currency, who would your personal choices be?” — Megan Block [0:12:35]

“Hopefully this helps people, even Americans who may not be as familiar with all five of these women, to go on Google and look up this person and see who [they are] and read about it and be interested.” — Kelly Castillo [0:21:49]

“Including certain communities is still a great step forward, but you have got to try your absolute best to include all communities; especially communities who get continually ignored.” — Megan Block [0:28:05]

“[This] will spark, hopefully, a lot of cool conversations within families and within communities. You’re holding your change in your hand. It’s right there to talk about.” — Kelly Castillo [0:31:08]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

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As we start a new year, we want to do things right and so today we discuss all things related to vision boards! We believe that this creative and visual exercise is a great way to define your goals and manifest the life of your dreams! Tuning in you’ll discover what inspired our hosts to create their vision boards, how their vision boards differ in terms of timeframe and format, and how you can create your own too! We discuss how a vision board can keep you aligned with your goals, what to include and what to exclude, different resources that may help you create your own, and the pros and cons of doing a magazine vision board versus a digital vision board. You’ll find out the value of having individual, couple, or family vision boards, the benefits of creating them with your kids, and the fun of having a vision board party with your girlfriends. Tune in to hear about what made it onto Kelly and Megan’s vision boards and then find out how you can show us your own! If you want to start your year right, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

What inspired our hosts to create vision boards.
What a vision board is and how it keeps you aligned with your goals.
Why our hosts feel that September feels more like the new year than January.
The idea of having a vision board party with your girlfriends.
Individual versus couple or family vision boards.
The value of Pinterest for aspirational quotes, visuals, and content.
Kelly’s struggles with object permanence and the need for an episode on this subject.
How Kelly’s phone apps are organized by affirmation.
Megan’s magazine clipping vision board and how you can make your own.
Why Kelly made a vision board for just quarter one of 2022.
The pros and cons of doing a magazine vision board versus a digital vision board.
Kelly’s survival skill of not allowing herself to dream big and how she is trying to overcome it.
Why creating vision boards is such a great exercise to do with kids.
Health and wellness goals and how to include them in a way that is not triggering.
Our hosts share their vision boards.
How you can revise or add to your vision board whenever you want to.
How you can share your vision board with us.

Tweetables:

“That's the whole idea of vision boards. I mean, it's visualization, but in a photo format for the most part, and maybe some affirmations thrown in, if that works for you. It's just a way to keep ourselves on track and to keep us aligned with our goals and with the person that we are trying to be.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:53]

“What is important [when you create a vision board] is that you visualize your goals, visualize the person you want to be, the things you want to accomplish, and you find photos, or words, sayings, things that have meaning for you.” — Kelly Castillo [0:27:20]

“I would try to choose positive imagery. Don't focus on the things you want to change, focus on the things that you want to create in your life.” — Kelly Castillo [0:27:49]

“Just taking that extra step is reminding you of what's truly important to you because life gets in the way and we make excuses for all kinds of things. You deserve to be reminded of what's truly important to you before it's too late.” — Megan Block [0:51:24]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Create A Vision Board That’ll Make All Your 2022 Dreams Come True

Canva

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

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Scamming people is one of the lowest forms of behavior, but this doesn’t stop conmen! On the show today, we cover the most common swindles and how to avoid them. Both Kelly and Megan have either been the victim of scams themselves or have had a close family member fall prey to one. We kick off the show hearing some of these horror stories, one of which involved Kelly’s gran having her bank account drained (twice!). From there, we speak about the proliferation of fraudulent schemes that piggyback off of COVID-19, while also trying to provide a few facts that can help you spot one. We also look at other big examples of scams that people often fall prey to such as phishing, identity fraud, fake romances, and shady online shopping funnels. In these examples, we try to hand out some helpful facts to increase weariness and security. It is a great pity that there are so many criminals out there because inevitably it just leads to innocent people developing a huge sense of distrust in humanity. However, it is a reality that exists and the best we can do is prepare ourselves, so be sure to tune in for today’s show.

Key Points From This Episode:

A time where Megan fell prey to a scam involving a phony job offer.
How Kelly’s gran with dementia had her bank account drained twice by scammers.
The types of people that get scammed and how older folks are often targeted.
How important it is to warn vulnerable groups about scams that target them.
The scams that Kelly’s husband often falls prey to while shopping online.
Safer ways to shop online using trusted apps and service providers.
A valuable lesson that Kelly’s son learned after getting his iPad stolen.
How to tell that a potential buyer on an online marketplace is not trustworthy.
Tips for differentiating junk mail from legitimate post.
How scams have proliferated since COVID and the most common methods used.
Information about vaccine certificates and COVID tests to help avoid scams surrounding them.
Common identity theft and imposter scams and how Kelly avoided falling for one.
Things to know about social security numbers to avoid scams surrounding them.
How much money has been lost by people who fell prey to romance scams.
Phishing scams that steal your information using links posted on job offers.
General tips for avoiding scams involving passwords, trusted sites, and more.
The value of reporting your experience of being scammed as far as catching the scammer.

Tweetables:

“They wiped out a 90-year-old woman’s bank account twice. The kind of people who feed on seniors like that with cognitive impairment are the lowest form of life.” — Kelly Castillo [0:03:19]

“You need to not automatically trust anyone, especially someone you meet online. There’s a lot of ways to fool people.” — Kelly Castillo [0:30:39]

“Don’t give out pieces of yourself, your money, your personal information, to people that you barely know.” — Megan Block [0:34:34]

“If you have been a victim of any of these scams, don’t be embarrassed. You have to report it because this is the only way they are going to catch these people.” — Kelly Castillo [0:52:08]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On

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Today we’re going to introduce you to a problem you didn’t even know you had! In this episode, we broach the topic of the reflexivity trap or awareness laundering. The reflexivity trap is the idea that by professing the awareness of our faults, it somehow absolves us of them. We discuss some of the ways this plays out in our lives, such as apologizing for always being late but not taking steps to be somewhere on time. We chat about how this has been normalized in society, how self-awareness plays out differently in different generations, and how people tend to congratulate each other on their self-awareness but not challenge each other to change their behavior. We also talk about how people hide behind mental health self-diagnoses and their star signs to justify their behavior. For this revelatory conversation on the importance of being sincere and changing our actions when we apologize, how to ask for grace or extend grace while we work on ourselves, and when to challenge people on their excuses, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Our hosts reflect on the past two years and their hopes for 2022.
An introduction to the topic of the reflexivity trap or awareness laundering.
What the reflexivity trap is: the idea that professing awareness of a fault absolves you of it.
Examples of how the reflexivity trap plays out in Kelly and Megan’s lives.
How this has been normalized but is still not excusable.
Thoughts on how self-awareness plays out differently in different generations.
How people tend to congratulate each other on their self-awareness but that is not enough if they don’t change their behavior.
How people hide behind mental health self-diagnoses and their star signs to justify their behavior.
The problem of fetishizing individualism to a point that when we’re asked to do anything for the collective good, it feels like oppression.
Why it’s okay to ask for grace when you’re working on an issue.
The importance of giving grace to others when they are working on something.
How a lot of these issues are survival skills we have learned from trauma.
Thoughts on when to challenge people on their excuses.
How these behaviors play out in romantic relationships.
How awareness laundering is similar to performative allyship.
The importance of being sincere when you apologize by then changing your behavior.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The New Yorker: “Has Self-Awareness Gone Too Far in Fiction?”

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Broken heart syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy is increasing across all age groups and genders. However, among women aged 50 to 74, it has gone up six to 10 times in the last decade. And that's a huge jump! In fact, 88% of the people diagnosed with this condition are women over 50. It’s also concerning that hormone fluctuations have been eliminated as a cause or contributor as well as a genetic predisposition. In light of these facts, in this episode, we break down the symptoms and causes of this condition. We discuss the problem of high stress and the lack of knowledge on how to properly handle it before giving some tips on everyday things you can do to relieve stress. We discuss why we think it affects women more than men, why it affects the generation of women between the ages of 50 and 74 specifically, and how we feel these figures may change when our kids’ generation reaches that age, factoring in changing gender roles, perceptions of therapy and anti-depressants, and boundaries. This condition can affect millions of women per year, so tune in today to discover the dangers of self-diagnosing, the importance of seeking medical care, and helpful tips to prevent it.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic: Broken Heart Syndrome.
How the cases among women aged 50 to 74 have gone up six to10 times in the last decade.
The symptoms of Broken Heart Syndrome and how they are similar to a heart attack.
Shocking statistics about Broken Heart Syndrome.
What causes it: chronic levels of high stress or a sudden instance of high stress.
The problem of the lack of knowledge on how to properly handle stress.
Everyday things you can do to relieve stress.
How we crave comfort food when stressed but this is not conducive to helping us deal with it.
How hormone fluctuations were eliminated as a cause or contributor to this condition.
Megan and Kelly speculate on why they think women are affected more than men.
How Megan and Kelly think these figures may change when their kids’ generation reaches that age.
The vast generational differences in people’s perceptions of therapy and anti-depressants.
How Megan and Kelly’s kids’ generation has much healthier boundaries.
How science indicates that this is not something that is genetically predisposed but caused by environmental factors.
What physically happens to your heart when you get stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
Some of the emotional stressors that can induce it.
How the symptoms sound similar to a panic attack, the dangers of self-diagnosing, and the importance of seeking medical care.
Kelly and Megan reflect on some of the women that they have lost.
How we as women and mothers tend to take care of ourselves for others instead of for ourselves.

Tweetables:

“You might know exactly what's causing this chronic stress in your life every day, that might be pushing you towards that 88%. You have all the power in the world to take over your life and take over your self-care.” — Megan Block [0:30:09]

“If there are things and people in your life that are just the cause of this stress, feel free to put your foot down and put some boundaries up and watch things change.” — Megan Block [0:30:38]

“We would hope that the people closest to us would want what is best for us and would want our mental health to be great and our physical health to be great. If that is not the case, you don't owe anybody a relationship, you really do not, just as no one owes you one.” — Kelly Castillo [0:31:00]

“If you're trying to guess or self-diagnose that you're having a panic attack, maybe don't do that? Maybe go to the emergency, because it could be something way more serious.” — Kelly Castillo [0:42:40]

“I mean, in

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Over 50% of relationships end in divorces, and one of the biggest things couples fight about is money. Financial infidelity can be a factor in many of these disputes, so today on the show we wanted to share our thoughts on the matter. One of the main points we make is that there are nuances to the discussion of financial infidelity! The dictionary defines financial infidelity as any time you lie to your spouse about anything money-related. There are, however, obviously going to be situations where you can make purchases that are not disclosed and that you should not feel guilty about. However, a partner could be making financial decisions that jeopardize the future of your relationship, and these are not okay. Another big point we make is that if a partner is keeping threatening financial choices to themselves and you find out somehow, this could be seen as an opportunity to work through the problem together and get to a stronger place in your relationship. After all, everybody has different experiences of money growing up that affect how they handle it later in life. At the end of the day, working out matters of money is all about clear communication. Having honest conversations about finances from the get-go in a relationship, and continuing them regularly, can save couples from future problems as well as help them both set and achieve their mutual goals!

Key Points From This Episode:

What financial infidelity is, how often it occurs, and the different types that exist.
The value of writing things down or having monthly sit-downs around financial matters.
How one’s upbringing affects the level of openness one has around money matters.
Having a ‘f*ck off’ fund as a woman and whether that constitutes financial infidelity.
How Kelly and Megan’s childhood families handled money conversations and the effects of this on their decisions.
Dealing with feelings of guilt moms get about spending money on self-care.
How Kelly and Megan handle financial matters with their families.
The value that moms bring to the household and the money they deserve for that.
Our definition of financial infidelity; major issues of dishonesty around money like gambling.
Steps to take if you are experiencing financial infidelity from your partner.
Situations where it is OK to have compassion for a partner committing financial infidelity.
The possibility of getting to a stronger place in your relationship after working through financial dishonesty.
Remembering not to bring up past infidelity that has been dealt with as a way of winning an argument.
Avoiding future issues around money by having honest conversations early in the relationship.
Figuring out how to handle finances when each partner earns a different salary.
Having a rule where purchases over a threshold need to be disclosed.

Tweetables:

“Most of these issues can be resolved with honesty, transparency, and having regular conversations.” — Megan Block [0:05:54]

“For me, what I equate with financial infidelity in a serious level is compulsive shopping, or gambling debt.” — Megan Block [0:24:14]

“We're talking about financial infidelity that really shakes you to the core, and makes you feel seriously betrayed, and affects your ability to live your life individually, and what that does to your name, and all of that.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:39]

“The problem-solving conversation that you have, or the conflict resolution conversation that you have, no matter what the topic is, should always be you and your partner, versus the problem. Not you versus your partner.” — Megan Block [0:55:13]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

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Let’s face it; we should all be eating seasonally, but we love a good frozen pizza every now and then! Making a salad every night, getting the right ingredients, and keeping that bag of spinach in your fridge from wilting just seems too difficult sometimes, which is why we’re talking about eating seasonally, what that means, why it’s important, and how it benefits us, society, and the earth as a whole. We also share some of the fun and exciting ways that you can work with nature to eat what is best for you (and your wallet), including visiting your local farmers’ market with the family, growing your own herbs and vegetables, and experimenting with new ingredients and recipes. You’ll also find out how eating seasonally can help you lower your carbon footprint, increase your anticipation for some of your favorite produce, and even help you relax and destress, as well as get you to look forward to eating a more ‘plant-forward’ diet! For all this and more, make sure not to miss today’s episode with Kelly Castillo and Megan Block!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why seasonal eating can be difficult in a world where you can get anything on demand.
The anticipation and excitement that eating seasonally can create.
A reminder that the seasons change for a reason; why we should eat like our ancestors.
The nutritional (and financial) benefits of eating local, seasonally grown produce
Megan shares her love for farmers’ markets and supporting local businesses.
How eating seasonally is an easy way to lower your carbon footprint.
Kelly and Megan discuss some of their favorite seasonal produce, like heirloom tomatoes.
How eating seasonally allows us to connect with nature and what is right for our bodies.
Our advice: ask the vendors at your local farmers’ market about what is seasonal.
How eating seasonally helps combat food waste, which is a huge problem in the US.
Why we suggest growing your own herbs and vegetables, even in an urban setting.
Kelly shares how working in her vegetable garden helps her relax.
How Kelly’s garden and animals serve her community as well as her own family.
Megan emphasizes the fact that that it’s about trying to eat seasonally as much as you can, not being perfect 100 percent of the time.
How supporting local farmers’ markets helps bolster the US economy.
Why Kelly believes that we vote with our wallets more than we do in the voting booth.
Megan highlights the value of experimenting with new ingredients; it’s fun and delicious!
How eating seasonally can help you to start eating a more ‘plant-forward’ diet.
Why we suggest starting with what you like to eat and trying new recipes.
Take your kids to the farmers’ market too; proper nutrition starts early!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Local Harvest

Imperfect Foods

Misfits Market

Hungry Harvest

Harvest to Home

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A

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Today’s topic is something that will likely resonate with all listeners; the green-eyed monster otherwise known as jealousy! If we’re jealous of someone else’s life, it must mean we aren’t grateful for our own, right? But jealousy can actually be a positive emotion and an opportunity to shift our perspective. Rather than letting it control you, you can work with it to propel yourself forward, which is what we’re discussing in today’s episode! Tuning in, you’ll hear Kelly and Megan’s perspective on how social media fuels jealousy and how you can benefit from leaning into those feelings and utilizing them as opportunities for personal growth. We discuss the value of self-reflection, the fine line between sharing your successes and being sensitive toward friends and loved ones, and how deciding what is most important to you can help you overcome those creeping feelings of envy. We also touch on prioritizing memorable moments over material things, why it’s essential that you forgive yourself for feeling jealous (it’s natural!), and the surprising benefits that might come from reaching out to those you’re most envious of for advice. Join us today to learn all this and more about going from jealous to zealous!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why jealousy has a bad reputation as one of the seven deadly sins; envy.
How social media fuels jealousy; be wary of the ‘highlight reels’!
The benefits of leaning into feelings of envy and using them as opportunities for growth.
Using the film, Bridesmaids, as an example of jealousy between friends.
Understanding that growth always requires self-reflection and some level of discomfort.
How jealousy often rears its head on a weight loss journey or in times of financial stress.
Why it’s important to remember that everyone has their own struggles; no one is perfect!
The fine line that exists between sharing your success and being sensitive toward others.
Kelly and Megan reflect on how jealousy tends to come up around the holidays.
Kelly shares one of her biggest jealousy triggers on social media: ‘cleanfluencers’.
The importance of giving yourself grace when your house doesn’t look like Marie Kondo’s.
How staying grounded and deciding what is most important can help you overcome envy.
Megan emphasizes the value of prioritizing memorable moments over material things.
Kelly reminds us to forgive ourselves for feeling jealous; it’s completely natural!
Why someone achieving their goal doesn’t diminish the chances of you achieving yours.
The humbling aspect of asking for help that contributes to your personal growth.
The importance of seeking professional mental health support if necessary.

Tweetables:

“Nobody’s life is perfect. Everybody’s life has challenges. It’s easy to forget that when all we see are the very positive things they are celebrating on the internet.” — Megan Block [0:05:26]

“A lot of times, the feelings that we have that are based in jealousy or envy are our inner selves trying to talk to us and tell us maybe an area of our life that we haven’t even acknowledged to ourselves that we’re unhappy with.” — Kelly Castillo [0:07:40]

“Even though losing a ton of weight or getting to a certain level fo career success is incredibly hard, the hardest thing is working on yourself and being honest with yourself about what aspects of your life aren’t making you happy.” — Kelly Castillo [0:16:57]

“Jealousy only goes so far when you’ve [grounded yourself] and decided what is truly important to you.” — Megan Block [0:35:37]

“When you ask other people how they did that, how they achieved that, how they got there, it’s just more knowledge that you have because they might have access to things that you’ve never heard of before.” — Kelly Castillo [0:47:05]

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Are you an early bird or a night owl? You’ve probably heard of circadian rhythms and the importance of getting enough sleep, but how much do you know about your sleep chronotype? Believe it or not, not all sleep schedules are created equal! In today’s episode, Megan and Kelly discuss the four different sleep chronotypes; the bear, the wolf, the lion, and the dolphin, and which of the chronotypes we relate to personally. We also dive into how they can impact your day-to-day life and how understanding your chronotype can help you figure out which sleep and work schedules work best for you and your body. Tune in today to learn more about embracing your inner ‘snooze animal’!

Key Points From This Episode:

What sleep chronotypes are and how they impact your day-to-day life.
The four different sleep chronotypes, starting with the bear and its related traits.
What works best for bears when it comes to their sleep and work schedules.
Find out how both Kelly and Megan relate to the bear chronotype.
How the recent time change has impacted our circadian rhythms.
Learn more about the wolf chronotype, which most closely resembles a ‘night owl’.
The ideal sleep and work schedules for wolves and some of their common traits.
We discuss how we are both most productive and alert in the mornings.
Discover the lion chronotype, which is energetic in the morning and crashes by bedtime.
Why Megan and Kelly relate to the lion; we’re both such stereotypical ‘early birds’!
Kelly shares the ideal sleep, work, and exercise schedule for lions.
Lastly, we cover the dolphin chronotype, which tends to correspond with insomnia.
Why office managers and team leaders might consider adjusting meeting schedules.
A dolphin’s typical sleep and work schedule, as well as their common traits.
How you can adjust your schedules to your benefit based on your chronotype.

Tweetables:

“[Your sleep chronotype] can affect a lot of different things, like what time you should go to bed at night, the best time for you to wake up, the most productive time of your day. It also, surprisingly, can affect your appetite, your mood, [and] your body temperature.” — Kelly Castillo [0:02:36]

“You know when you're [at your] best and most productive, and if you feel like you don’t know, this is the best way to find out.” — Megan Block [0:15:07]

“Some people fight [their chronotype] for whatever reason, shape, or form. Learn to not fight it and adjust accordingly and watch your mental health get better.” — Megan Block [0:38:19]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

‘Here’s The Low Down On Sleep Chronotypes And How To Embrace Your Inner Snooze Animal’

Automated Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (AutoMEQ)

Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ)

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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The sprint from Halloween to Christmas can be stressful for most people but, if you have kids, it is also often accompanied by the trifecta of overbooking, mom guilt, and unmet expectations. Today, we’re talking about the inevitable holiday stress we feel as parents and some of the ways that you can circumvent it, avoid common triggers, and make time for yourself during the craziest time of the year! Kelly and Megan share their tips for reducing anxiety, including making a list of which events are most important to you and cancelling the rest, setting realistic expectations for the festive season with your family, and carving out essential time for self-care, as well as delegating, asking for help when you need it, and creating new traditions rather than doing things the way they have “always been done.” For all this and more on how to alleviate seasonal depression and put the ‘merry’ back in merrymaking, make sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Kelly shares her personal memories of the holidays when she was growing up.
Hear how Megan celebrated the holidays with her family in a more religious household.
Why the holidays are commonly a trying time for most parents.
The joy of creating new traditions with your family and the stress of obligation.
Some of the additional pressures that come with social media during the holidays.
Tips for reducing anxiety: make a list of what is most important to you and scratch the rest!
Holiday financial stress and the benefits of prioritizing experiences over expensive gifts.
The value of relinquishing control, delegating, and sharing the workload with your partner.
How important it can be to set expectations for the holidays with your work and family.
Hear about some of the ways that Kelly and Megan get into the ‘holiday spirit’.
Why self-care is essential during the holidays; you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Megan on the benefits of moving your body for your mental health.
Remember that perfection is an illusion; comparison is the thief of joy.
Holiday life lessons; how you approach this season sets an example for your kids.
Kelly tells a story about the time she lost her temper on Christmas morning and how her kids have never let her forget about it.
How you can use volunteer work as an outlet if you are alone this Christmas.
Prioritizing whatever makes your heart feel full at Christmastime.

Tweetables:

“Whether it’s overbooking yourself or overshooting what your expectations are going to be, sometimes [the holidays] can turn from what should be joyous to super stressful!” — Megan Block [0:06:44]

“We get sold this idea that we’re doing our kids a disservice if we don’t check every single box on the list. First of all, I know for a fact that’s not true and, second of all, we have to give ourselves a break. It’s impossible to do every single thing.” — Kelly Castillo [0:11:27]

“Now that we are in the early to middle part of November, [it] is a great time to have a conversation about expectations [for the holidays], not just with your partner but also with your [work], with your children if they are of the right age.” — Kelly Castillo [0:25:35]

“You don’t have to do something because you’ve always done it or because your mom and dad had you do it. If it doesn’t make sense, don’t do it!” — Megan Block [0:30:17]

“The holidays are one of those times of the year where self-care becomes absolutely essential to getting through it. It’s a paradox because, at the time of the year where you need to focus on self-care, you have the least amount of time to do so.” — Kelly Castillo [0:36:20]

“The holidays are a stressful period naturally. Try and find ways around it.” — Megan Block [0:54:40]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

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With Halloween wrapped up, the holiday season is upon us (along with all its stresses)! Tune in today to hear how Kelly and Megan each handle their families over this season and their advice on what you can do to set holiday boundaries. From why this is Kelly's favorite time of year, to what Megan's solutions are to the supply-chain issues in the lead-up to gift-buying season, this episode has it all. Discover six great ways to set your boundaries with family in the least confrontational way possible, and when it's okay to walk away. We discuss the social norms across different generations, and how the younger generation is changing the status quo with body positivity and reciprocal respect. We dive into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, and how both this and the current political situation have exacerbated inter-family divisiveness over the last two years. Hear about great DIY ideas from Pinterest and how these can subtly influence the interactions at holiday events, as well as why parent-child dynamics are so hard to change. If you want to know how to hug a porcupine, this is the episode for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

How time flies for Kelly from Halloween to New Year’s.
The little holiday traditions that mean the world to your kids.
How gifting and holidays evolve as kids grow older.
The impact of the pandemic on the supply-chain and why buying gifts earlier and local makes a difference.
An introduction to today’s topic: setting holiday boundaries with your family.
Why it’s so important that the younger generations are standing up for themselves and demanding two-way respect from their elders.
The topics or life events people might want to set boundaries around.
How to set expectations with your family members in advance of the event.
The benefit of setting boundaries ahead of time: not dreading the triggering topic being brought up throughout the event.
When situations get sticky after the dinner and what to do to avoid this.
How hosting the event can give you control over how to place people with conflicting views.
Hugging a porcupine: defusing that predictable negative comment by opening with a compliment.
Understanding the parent-child dynamic in your own family, and taking into account people’s tolerance for kids.
Giving yourself permission over a situation and owning the issue someone else always raises.
Adding fuel to the fire: tips on how to navigate alcohol consumption at holiday events.
Why it’s important to remember the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as the holiday season exacerbates mental health issues.
Defusing a tense situation: distract and redirect and how you can train your ally.
Why it's okay to walk away, and when you should be choosing yourself over family.
How body positivity nowadays differs from the past, and how to bridge the generation gap.

Tweetables:

“I think [the holiday season is] my favorite time of year, but I feel like I get too overwhelmed with everything we have to do, that I don't actually get to show up for it.” — Kelly Castillo [0:02:24]

“2020 was an incredibly divisive year for the world, for America, for families, whether it was politics, or people's reactions to the pandemic, there was a really big rift in some families that maintains to this day.” — Kelly Castillo [0:10:57]

“Just understand that when you have conflict, and you add alcohol to the mix, it escalates to the fire.” — Kelly Castillo [0:38:01]

“As a mom of a child in recovery, I will say that you never know what people are going through and struggling within their own lives.” — Kelly Castillo [0:38:58]

“Be prepared. Have a plan. Have an all

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Sometimes despite our best efforts to live a healthy life, our food cravings get the better of us and lead to bad long-term habits and poor health. Today, we are going to be talking about these food cravings. Tuning in you’ll hear about some of the different types of food cravings such as carbs and sugars, salty foods, coffee and tea, and even pica cravings like ice chips and dirt. We’re going to talk about some of the vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as lifestyle choices, medical conditions, and hormone imbalances such as pregnancy that can cause food cravings. We’ll also give you some practical tips on what you can do to curb them and eat a more balanced diet. Tune in to find out about the relationship between food cravings and food intolerances, the impact of our emotions and stress on our cravings, and hear a breakdown of what deficiencies you may have based on what you are craving. While it’s okay to give in to your cravings on occasion, this episode will help you curb them to improve your overall health long term.

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to some of the different types of food cravings people have.
How Kelly became aware of her blood sugar levels and the effects of giving in to her baked goods and sweet cravings.
How hormonal imbalances like those that occur during pregnancy can give you strange food cravings.
How pregnancy and the baby’s need for calcium can affect your teeth.
What pica is, who it affects, and why.
How Kelly reduced her cravings through monitoring her blood sugar.
The relation between food cravings and food intolerances.
The impact of our emotions or stress on our cravings.
The importance of regularly having a full checkup to see if your diet needs tweaking.
Why drinking plenty of water is so important.
How satisfying one’s cravings with unhealthy things is often a band-aid, not a cure.
If you are a person who craves salty foods, you could be dehydrated.
If you crave carbs and sugar, it could be related to a magnesium deficiency.
Coffee and tea cravings can mean that you are deficient in sulfur or iron.
How sleep deprivation can cause cravings and lead to bad long-term habits.
The value of keeping a health journal.
How a meal service helped Kelly eat better and curb her cravings.
Why Kelly believes it’s okay to have a bad day occasionally as long as it doesn’t become a pattern.
Thoughts on listening to your body and identifying intolerances.

Tweetables:

“By monitoring my blood sugar, I learned that if I eat a balanced diet with healthy carbs and healthy fats, my blood sugar wouldn’t fluctuate so much. Then the cravings, I wouldn’t have them as badly.” — Kelly Castillo [0:16:32]

“Are your cravings really destroying your body? Not just what you look like, not just your body fat percentage, but also your kidneys, your heart, your liver?” — Megan Block [0:21:20]

“We all need to listen to our bodies and we need to take as good care of ourselves as we take care of the people that we love.” — Kelly Castillo [0:40:05]

“But if you are having cravings that are affecting the quality of your life, and that you think may be affecting your long-term health, we definitely encourage you again, get some blood work done, make sure what’s going on, start drinking more water.” — Kelly Castillo [0:51:46]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Everlywell

Model Meals

Cronometer

The Elimination Diet

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Today we are tackling a bit of a heavier topic, as we look at the important subject of gaslighting. Gaslighting is a term that has gained more and more use in recent years and is now a mainstream idea that can be very useful in dealing with toxic behavior in a variety of relationships. In today's chat, we will be unpacking exactly what it is, how to know if it is happening to you, and what you can do about it! Most people will have experienced some form of gaslighting in their life, and if you think you haven't, you might want to listen to this episode! In our conversation, we look at some personal examples from our lives that exemplify what we are talking about, ways we have improved our tools for dealing with difficulties and troubled waters, and how to respect others' boundaries while doing what you need to do in order to exercise self-care. We also get into the roots of the word 'gaslight', the play that helped coin the term, and why there is cause for hope as things evolve over time. So to hear it all and join the conversation, listen in with us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

A quick definition of gaslighting and what exactly the term refers to.
Examples of personal experiences of gaslighting from our younger years.
The subtle way that gaslighting can creep into a relationship unnoticed.
Looking at the professional dimension to the discussion and how it can impact people's careers.
The origins of the term and the different techniques that it encompasses.
Why clear communication from the beginning can help avoid problems later on.
A better way to fix issues in relationships; assuming good intentions!
Unpacking some important connected concepts; blocking, diverting, trivializing, and denial.
Lessons in mutual respect and understanding other people's traumas and triggers.
How to identify if someone is gaslighting you; second-guessing, indecision, and questioning.
Some recommendations for tools and strategies to deal with gaslighting.
Having the difficult conversations and confronting the problems you are experiencing.
Maintaining your most important relationship: the one with yourself!
How things are shifting and new generational values that are developing.

Tweetables:

“Gaslighting is a psychology term and it basically refers to a very specific type of manipulation where people make you doubt your own memory, make you doubt your recollection of events, or question your reality.” — Kelly Castillo [0:01:30]

“Explaining our feelings and being open about them is a new concept to us as humans.” — Kelly Castillo [0:05:01]

“Any kind of abusive dynamic usually starts out small and progresses into becoming a very dangerous situation.” — Megan Block [0:09:39]

“I think gaslighting is mostly about power, control. I guess that's where most abuse comes from.” — Megan Block [0:09:51]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

Gaslight

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

She's A Full On Monet on Facebook

She's A Full On Monet on YouTube

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Today we’re talking about a really important subject, not just for ourselves but also for our children and the example we’re setting for them. In this episode, we discuss over-apologizing; the way in which people say “I’m sorry” when it’s stated reflexively and not as a sincere apology. We chat about the importance of apologizing when you have wronged someone, what apologies are supposed to mean, and why you shouldn’t apologize unless you really mean it. We share our thoughts on how we feel this is something that women struggle with more than men and then we breakdown a number of reasons why you may do this, how it negatively affects the way people treat you, and the challenges of breaking a habit that you may not even be aware of. Tuning in, you’ll find out how to become aware of your own unnecessary apologizing, the different contexts and reasons you may be doing this, and what you could say instead of “I’m sorry.” For all this and more, tune in for this unapologetically candid discussion!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic of over-apologizing and why we should stop.
The importance of apologizing when you have wronged someone.
How, at the risk of stereotyping, the people who have a hard time apologizing tend to be male.
How apologies are supposed to mean that you won’t do it again.
Why you shouldn’t apologize unless you mean it.
Whether or not we’re taking away the meaning of those words by saying them too often.
The many reasons why we might be over-apologizing, starting with a lack of confidence.
How some people apologize when they’re fishing for a compliment or validation.
How over-apologizing affects how people treat you in a negative way.
Why over-apologizing may make you seem less capable and professional in your career.
The challenges of breaking a habit that you’re not aware of.
How apologizing for behavior that doesn’t change becomes a form of gas-lighting.
Thoughts on when not to apologize in a restaurant and what you can say instead.
Apologizing for taking up space and how this has gotten worse since the pandemic.
How an unnecessary “I’m sorry” in a business context can often be replaced with “thank you.”
Why you shouldn’t start a phone call with an apology and what you should say instead.
When Kelly and Megan personally use the words “I’m sorry” unnecessarily.
“I’m sorry” as a statement of sympathy and how this could be an attempt to redirect attention to you.
Homework for the week: to pay closer attention to when you say “I’m sorry” reflexively and to notice how other people respond.

Tweetables:

“If you’re one of those people who says “I’m sorry” every conversation for little things then when you really do need to apologize, it might not have the impact that you’re hoping for.” — Kelly Castillo [0:09:48]

“There’s a lot of ways that I think we teach people how to treat us and when we’re constantly apologizing preemptively or without there being anything to apologize for, it kind of gives the other people permission to walk all over us.” — Kelly Castillo [0:16:17]

“‘I’m so sorry to bother you.’ ‘It’s okay.’ What was that for? I’m really not sorry and you really don’t need to be okay with it. It’s just such a waste of time!” — Megan Block [0:34:58]

“We all just need to have more confidence in ourselves, and we all need to have more confidence in the space we’re taking and the time we take of people.” — Megan Block [0:37:57]

“The more confident and whole with ourselves we are, the less apologetic for even the smallest things.” — Megan Block [0:47:16]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

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We all want to be that person who takes care of their skin but sometimes we aren’t even aware of the small habits we have that are detrimental to our skin over time. Today we are going to discuss some of these little things that we should and should not be doing that will have a big impact on our skin long-term. Tuning in you’ll hear the importance of having a skincare routine that is simple and find out why you shouldn’t rub your eyes, sleep with make-up on, or apply a product in a way that pulls at your skin. You’ll discover the potential dangers of hot baths, Epsom salts, bath bombs, fat-free dairy, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine. You’ll also hear about the benefits of silk pillowcases, tinted sunscreen, antioxidants, and water intake, as well as Kelly’s hair-tie water-drinking hack. Discover which products, cleansers, and treatments we have found to be harmful and which ones we recommend, as well as a helpful dermatologist-recommended supplement for protecting your skin from the inside. Just having this conversation pointed out some little things that we know we can do better to take care of our skin and we’re sure it will do the same for you!

Key Points From This Episode:

An introduction to today’s topic: skincare.
Why a skincare routine needs to be simple.
The importance of having a routine to take care of your skin long-term.
Megan’s bad habit of rubbing her eyes when she’s stressed.
Megan’s other bad habit of not applying sunscreen and why this should be part of your daily routine.
The supplement that Kelly’s dermatologist recommended for sun protection.
The harsh scrubs and cleansers Kelly and Megan used in their teens.
The importance of applying a product in a way that doesn’t pull at your skin.
Why Kelly’s uses a FOREO brush instead of a Clarisonic skin brush.
One of the things Kelly does that she knows is bad for her skin: hot baths.
Thoughts on whether or not to use Epsom salts, essential oils, and bath bombs.
Why you shouldn’t sleep with make-up on.
The benefits of silk pillowcases and washing them with nonharmful detergents.
How fat-free dairy can cause acne.
The harmful nature of artificial sweeteners on your skin.
Why Kelly uses tinted sunscreen.
How it’s easy to forget to apply sunscreen to your neck and chest.
The negative and positive effects of coffee on your skin.
The importance of water intake and Kelly’s hair tie water-drinking hack.
Why you should use a piece of tissue if you have to pick at your skin or pop a pimple.
Why Kelly hates makeup wipes and uses makeup erasers instead.
How to encourage yourself to do a proper skincare routine every day.

Tweetables:

“I also feel like if you add too many steps to your skincare routine, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.” — Megan Block [0:08:33]

“What I think is the key probably to this whole thing is that you have to get to know your own skin and you have to figure out what works best for you personally. This is a very personal thing.” — Kelly Castillo [0:49:02]

“Find a way to encourage yourself though, because we are worth having nice skin. Even though we’re tired, if you leave it out on your counter, you might be more inclined to use it than if you put it underneath your counter.” — Megan Block [0:51:09]

“The less things that you do on your list today that damage your skin, and that could be sun damage, it could be diet, it could be artificial sweeteners, things like that. The less damage you cause to your skin, then the less steps you need to do to try to reverse damage.” — Kelly Castillo [0:52:41]

“It doesn’t have to be such a huge change, but find little ways to just add that to your day because it doesn’t take very long and it’s not

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As many of you know, raising children is a lot of work. Whether they’re in kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, or high school, there are a whole range of challenges that you will have to deal with as a primary caregiver, and trust us when we say we know it can be completely overwhelming! But also trust us when we say there are strategies and approaches, which we have tried and tested, that can make things a whole lot more manageable. That’s what we’re going to share with you in today’s episode, peppered with stories of our own personal experiences as moms which will make you want to laugh and cry all at once. Whether you are a mom, dad, grandparent, or any other form of guardian, we hope this episode provides you with some useful knowledge that makes the school years easier on you and on your children because that is what all of you wholeheartedly deserve!

Key Points From This Episode:

Struggles that we went through with getting our children to school on time.
Benefits of expecting things to go wrong in the morning.
Energy that you do and don’t want to be putting onto your children before school.
Insecurities that Kelly had as a young mom, and how this negatively affected her and her family.
Why it’s important to let your children do the things they are capable of doing, instead of doing everything for them.
How Kelly maintains structure, although she is not a naturally organized person.
The better you know your childrens’ habits and quirks, the easier your mornings will be.
Preparing ahead will benefit your mental health as a mom.
Hear how each of our children deals with the morning.
Lessons from kindergarten classrooms that will make your life at home easier.
Apps that help organize your family schedule.
Why the teenage years are harder than the younger years.
The approach we adopted for when our children forgot things at home.
Kelly’s family’s rule about the gas tanks in their cars.
A few stories which highlight the benefits of having a stock of school supplies at home.
What you need to teach your children before they leave for college.
Why you should never compare your children to one another.
Kelly’s son’s college experience.
The value of asking your children what they need.
Challenging transition periods in your childrens’ lives.
Stories which define the chaos that defined our lives at some point.
Don’t be afraid to ask for support when you need it.
A shout out to all primary caregivers, in all shapes and forms.

Tweetables:

“You need to prepare as much as you can so that you can prepare for the chaos that will happen inevitably.” — Megan Block [0:03:06]

“We all have our own insecurities. We all have our own stuff from our own childhood that we carry over. The sooner you let all of that go, the better off everybody's morning, afternoon, evening, etc. will be.” — Kelly Castillo [0:09:55]

“Knowing your child is part of managing expectations. If you allow the same thing to happen every day and frustrate you the same way every day, then that's a signal obviously that what you're doing isn't working and you need to change.” — Kelly Castillo [0:17:47]

“Your mental health, your kids mental health is way more important than what the elementary school or middle school has to say about whether your kids are on time.” — Kelly Castillo [0:40:07]

“Don't take it all on, make your life easier, whenever possible, figure out strategies that make your life easier.” — Kelly Castillo [01:05:09]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Cozi

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Emotional affairs can be hard to identify because there is often a fine line between friendship and deeper feelings. How can you be sure when you are going outside of the boundaries of your relationship? In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan dive into these complexities. We hear about the importance of communication and expressing your needs. When you and your partner are compatible, you have a friendship, and there is a safe space for you to express yourself. If not, you will turn elsewhere. This is why it’s important to actually look at why you want to turn outside of your relationship for support. We find out some of the signs to look out for if you think you might be having an emotional affair. Of course, it’s ok to have good friends, but you have to have boundaries and respect your partner. Our conversation also touches on how you know when you’re having an emotional affair, why you should work on your insecurities, and the power of a deeper, long-term commitment. Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

It's much easier to know when you are in a physical affair than it is to know when you’re in an emotional one.
Questioning when it’s ok to have a best friend of the opposite sex.
When you and your partner are genuinely friends, you get a lot of your needs met.
Megan’s experience of having an affair and how she and her now-husband moved past it.
Emotional affairs are incredibly complex and tied to many things.
When you meet "a person of interest", they only see one aspect of you.
Think about the pain that you are causing your partner by having an emotional affair.
Many of us fear having difficult conversations with our partners.
Kelly’s experience of her first marriage and how she knew she had to leave.
You cannot make your partner jump through hoops for nothing.
Some of the signs that you are having an emotional affair.
The importance of working on your insecurities rather than taking them out on your partner.
You can find other people attractive, but that doesn’t mean you have to act on it.
A major red flag is if you are taking care of yourself to get someone else’s attention.
As you get older, there is a real level of commitment that is present.
The importance of knowing that your actions have a ripple effect.
It's easy to idealize relationships that are confined to a certain space and not part of real life.
What to do if you find yourself in this kind of situation.
There are so many resources you can use if you think you might be having an emotional affair.
You have to give your partner a chance to improve.

Tweetables:

“It comes down to communication. If you have really good communication with your partner, and you guys have that trust bond, and a genuine friend type feeling for each other, where you can share all of your most intimate thoughts and concerns and fears and all of that, it doesn't leave a lot of space for someone else to come in and be that for you.” — Kelly Castillo [0:05:59]

“A lot of times, we go to other sources to meet our needs, because we don't want to face or confront the fact that our relationship isn't working. We don't want to actually have to deal with the fact that we are with a partner who isn't a good match for us.” — Kelly Castillo [0:17:19]

“Here's the thing. The most important relationship we all have is one with ourselves.” — Megan Block [0:56:09]

“You can't outrun yourself. You can't hide from yourself. It all comes out in the end.” — Kelly Castillo [0:58:40]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

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Rules are made to be broken, right? We certainly think so, at least when it comes to beauty rules. For years, women have been told what to wear and how to look, from not wearing lip gloss over a certain age to only wearing dark lipstick during the winter months, and in today’s episode, we debunk some of these outdated and unnecessary trends in favor of doing what makes you feel good. At the end of the day, that is what fashion and makeup is all about! They are simply tools that you can use to express yourself, so go ahead; contrast your lip liner with your lipstick, wear that shimmery eyeshadow, wear no makeup at all if you want to! Makeup should be a fun learning process about what you like and what works for you. We encourage you to go forth, play with products, and be daring, because the only rule is that there are no rules. Tune in today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Kelly and Megan share how they learned about makeup from magazines growing up.
Why Megan says she prefers a good skincare routine over a makeup routine.
A reminder that specific makeup techniques look different depending on your face shape.
Kelly offers her advice to do whatever makes you happy; there are no rules!
The first outdated beauty rule we are debunking: don’t apply mascara to your bottom lashes.
Why false eyelashes are no longer only for black tie events and evening wear.
We discuss different false lashes and lash extensions and why we love them.
The pressure that social media filters can create to look ‘presentable’ at all times.
Find out why blush isn’t only for the apples of your cheeks anymore.
How TikTok tutorials are presenting new, innovative ways to find shortcuts in your routine.
Why you don’t have to choose makeup based on your skin tone; go ahead, play with color!
Kelly emphasizes that makeup doesn’t have to be ‘flattering’ or appealing to anyone but you.
Challenging the rule that women over a certain age shouldn’t wear X, Y, or Z.
How we assess what is ‘age appropriate’ for ourselves and our kids.
We discuss why inappropriate behavior from men should never be about what women wear.
Some outdated skincare rules; you don’t have to fear oil-based products if you have oily skin.
Why the only rule is that there are no rules; do what make you happy!

Tweetables:

“As a rule, whether it's fashion or beauty, there are no rules. Do what makes you happy. Do what makes you feel good.” — Kelly Castillo [0:06:59]

“Whether it's a trend or not, TikTok and all these social media platforms are finding really cool, new, inventive ways [to] find shortcuts and help [us] out.” — Megan Block [0:24:03]

“[Makeup] doesn't have to flatter you. The goal is not to look pretty for the opposite sex or anyone other than yourself.” — Kelly Castillo [0:28:21]

“If I were to ever complain about a man being inappropriate to me, or saying [something inappropriate], or looking too long, people will probably judge what I'm wearing before they would judge what he's doing. How is that my responsibility?” — Megan Block [0:39:48]

“I would definitely encourage [you] to play around with different products and just see what works for you. That applies to makeup and skincare.” — Kelly Castillo [0:47:55]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

‘Tired of These Outdated Beauty Rules? Break Up with Them!’

Lashify

Birchbox

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

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Through relationships, children discover who they are and learn to understand others, which is why it’s important that we build strong, positive, and nurturing relationships with our kids that will last a lifetime. In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan speak about relationship-building from their personal perspectives as parents of young children, teens, and adults. We share some tips for improving your relationship with your own children, no matter how old they are or what stage of life they are in, including the importance of really listening to them, showing an interest in their hobbies, and meeting them where they are at. We also touch on the value of setting healthy boundaries, navigating your relationship as your child gains more adult independence, and why it’s crucial that you allow your children to make small mistakes, as well as our advice for minimizing your expectations, putting your children first, and showing you care in the little moments. All of this contributes to building a resilient relationship founded on trust and mutual respect. After all, your relationship with your kids gives them cues about how to treat others, so let’s lay the groundwork for healthy, lifelong relationships!

Key Points From This Episode:

The conflict Megan feels about giving her nine-year-old space while also staying involved.
Kelly highlights the need for transition in your relationships as your kids become adults.
Our first tip to build healthy, long-lasting relationships with your kids: really listen to them.
The value of showing an active interest in what your kids are interested in.
Find out why Kelly didn’t teach her kids not to interrupt adult conversations.
Megan emphasizes the need to also set healthy boundaries with your children.
How to navigate your relationship as your child starts to learn more independence.
How it can hamper your relationship if you don’t treat your adult children like adults.
Why you have to let your children make small mistakes and figure things out on their own.
Our second tip for fostering a sense of trust: when you listen, don’t react.
Kelly shares her advice for parents whose first reaction tends to be an overly emotional one.
The benefits of explaining how your child’s actions made you feel rather than blowing up.
The biggest mistake Kelly sees parents making: having too many expectations.
Hear why we don’t suggest giving your young adult and adult children unsolicited advice.
Remember that this is a lifelong relationship; invest your time, love, energy, and effort in it!
If Kelly could give only one piece of advice, it would be: put your children first.
How your relationship with your kids gives them cues about how to treat others.
Our last tip for learning and growing with your children: meet them where they are at.
Megan suggests treating your relationships with your kids like your ideal friendship.
How showing you care in the little moments will lay the groundwork for the big moments.
Why it’s never too late to start implementing some of these tips with your kids.

Tweetables:

“You have to care, and you have to be enthusiastic, and you have to listen – and not just passively listen while you scroll your phone. You actually have to listen.” — Kelly Castillo [0:06:11]

“One of the biggest, greatest things about going away to college or going away to the military or moving away from home on any kind of volunteer mission is that you're forced to figure things out for yourself because of the distance.” — Kelly Castillo [0:16:33]

“It is a good thing to explore how to have a healthy relationship with your child, no matter [their] age.” — Megan Block [0:20:04]

“If you let them be who they're meant to be, they will turn out to be absolutely amazing.” — Kelly Cast

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When our children leave home for the first time it can be difficult to adjust, especially for mothers. Whether your child is starting college, moving into their first apartment, or joining the military, you are suddenly left with considerably more free time on your hands and a home that can, at times, seem eerily quiet and clean. In today’s episode, we discuss some of the feelings that may come up over this time, how best to prepare for it, and why in many ways you are grieving the end of a chapter in your life. Kelly shares how she experienced her children leaving home for the first time, and we hear from Megan on how children leaving for kindergarten is in many ways a mini version of that experience. We discuss some helpful steps you can take when your children are in their teens to prepare you for this stage in your life, like trying out new hobbies or venturing into new social activities outside of parenting, like joining a book club. Kelly shares some of the positive changes she was able to make in her life after finding she had much more free time on her hands. She also expands on the difficulty of not being a part of her children’s daily lives and reflects on the importance of allowing them the time and space to grow into independent adults. We spend some time discussing how children leaving home can affect your marriage, as well as why it’s important to not make any big life changes during this time. Whether you’re a mom who works, a stay-at-home-mom, or somewhere in between, there is no doubt that children leaving home can be a difficult transition period. Join us today for a frank and compassionate discussion on this time of grief, transition, and metamorphosis!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s topic: how to readjust to your life after your children leave home.
Why your children leaving home is like the end of a chapter in your life.
The different experiences that working moms and stay-at-home moms might have when their kids leave home for the first time.
How moms may need to rediscover how they want to use their time when their children leave home.
Why it’s good to prepare for when your kids leave by trying out new hobbies and interests in their early teen years.
How Kelly could shop for food and cook in a way that aligned with her values and incorporate more movement into her routine after her daughter left home.
The feelings of grief that can come with the end of this chapter in your life.
How the COVID 19 pandemic derailed Kelly and her husband’s plans to travel after their kids had left home.
How Kelly found a sense of community and compassion on Facebook, with women who were going through the same experiences.
Why you need to give your children space to learn, grow, and establish themselves when they go to college.
How Kelly uses Snapchat to feel more connected to her kids.
How kids leaving home can often reveal problems within a marriage.
Why you need to give yourself time to process your empty nest before making any major life decisions.
Why Kelly recommends that parents start finding hobbies and activities to do together a few years before their kids leave for college.
The joy that comes with rediscovering yourself and pursuing your interests.

Tweetables:

“I think this hits everybody hard. It hits everybody differently. But it is important to take a look at your habits and routines and figure out how much of those are items of convenience because you were strapped for time.” — Megan Block [0:07:24]

“I would highly recommend anybody whose kids are 14, 15, 16, or even 17 to start looking for hobbies and interests, things that speak to you, and you've always been interested in but never had the time to pursue.” — Kelly Castillo [0:08:55]

“You’re grieving a whole phase of your life

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There is no denying that social media is a huge part of modern-day life. While there can be a lot of positives to it, studies have shown that it can also lead to stress, lower self-esteem, and unrealistic expectations of yourself, your body, and your life. For some, social media has become a rollercoaster of comparison and dissatisfaction. But how do we stop the ride if we’re not having fun anymore? In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan share some of the signs that it might be time to take a break from social media and highlight some of the negative impacts it can have on your children too. We discuss our personal relationships with social media and some of the strategies we have used to help us curb our social media addictions, from scheduling screen time to charging our phones in another room or even deleting the apps altogether! We also touch on the constant pressure influencers feel to create content, finding the balance between aesthetic and authenticity, and the value of setting boundaries for yourself, as well as the importance of taking the time to unplug and reconnect with yourself, nature, and your family. There is no right or wrong way to use social media and our use cases vary so widely, but we suggest asking yourself: if you were to not have your phone with you for a full day, a week, or a month, how would you feel? Sometimes, it is important to assess what you might be distracting yourself from. Tune in today for our insights on a topic that is relevant to almost everyone in 2021!

Key Points From This Episode:

How social media can affect your mental health in a negative way.
The importance of also monitoring your children’s relationship with social media.
Kelly shares how she navigated social media with her own kids, balancing trust with safety.
How comparison on social media can impact young girls’ self-esteem and body image.
What a social media break can look like; the value of paying attention to your gut instincts.
Capturing the moment versus curating an experience instead of enjoying it in the moment.
It’s not about how you use social media, but how it is affecting your mental health.
How to cleanse your Instagram feed by focusing on how an account makes you feel.
Megan and Kelly discuss their personal relationships with social media and work.
The constant pressure to create content and the profound impact your like count can have.
How content creators and influencers have been affected by the pandemic.
Try sharing the content you feel has the most value, not what you think will “perform” best.
Tips for those whose main source of income is social media: try batch working on content.
Megan highlights the importance of self-evaluating how and why you are using social media.
How to take a break, from scheduling screen time to deleting the apps altogether.
Kelly recommends that you don’t plug your phone in next to your bed at night.
The importance of taking time to unplug and reconnect with yourself, nature, and family.
Assess what you are distracting yourself from; how social media addiction can be symptomatic of deeper issues.
Strategies you can employ to reduce your dependency on your mobile phone.
Reevaluate how often you use social media, how it makes you feel, and whether or not you are using it to distract yourself from something.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

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Arguments about money can hamper many happy relationships. This is especially true for couples that live together and those that are married, with financial issues frequently cited as one of the leading reasons for divorce. But why is money such a sticky subject? In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan dive into this very personal topic. We discuss how more traditional arrangements between partners have evolved with the times and the value of communicating openly with your partner and your children about money, as well as doing what works for your unique circumstances. No two relationships are the same and individual financial situations can vary just as broadly, so it can be useful to set realistic expectations and discuss money, children, and elderly relatives before you decide to get married or enter into a long-term relationship with someone. Preparing for the unexpected is a key theme in this conversation, and both Kelly and Megan emphasize the importance of ensuring that you are financially literate and learning how to protect yourself should a worst-case scenario occur, especially as a woman. It certainly isn’t a romantic conversation, but it is an important one to have with your partner! We also touch on the challenges that come with blended families, supporting adult children, and what is known as ‘financial infidelity’, so make sure to tune in today for a candid and revealing discussion about financial arrangements in relationships!

Key Points From This Episode:

Why finances are such a sensitive subject to navigate, especially during COVID.
How traditional financial arrangements between couples have evolved over time.
The emotional relationship many people have with spending habits and personal debt.
The value of communication and doing what works for your unique relationship.
Financial decisions required for managing children and elderly relatives.
Advice for educating your children about finances: communicate openly with them.
While money does not define your family, it can be important to set realistic expectations.
Megan and Kelly share what their own parents taught them about finances.
The benefits of teaching your children about the importance of saving early on.
Kelly speaks candidly about how her adult children manage their own finances.
The value of discussing money, children, and elderly relatives before marriage, not after.
Why it is important to be prepared for the unexpected to happen.
Tough love; why couples often disagree on how to support their adult children.
What has worked for Kelly: separate private accounts and a shared household account.
How to minimize resentment when both partners don’t earn the same level of income.
Some of the additional challenges that come with blended families or second marriages.
Find out what ‘financial infidelity’ is and how having a private account can prevent it.
Kelly highlights the importance of having emotional sensitivity for your partner.
A simple rule Kelly lives by: if you can’t tell your partner, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.
Why it is essential that you are as financially literate as possible; educate yourself!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

IRS Innocent Spouse Relief

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

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Most of us spend a great deal of time in front of screens as part of our daily lives. Although we cannot control all of what we consume on the internet and social media, there are small ways we can make more positive changes when we look at our screens. Recently, Kelly saw a TikTok that inspired her to reorganize and rearrange her phone and computer backgrounds. In today’s episode, we hear about the benefits of putting all of your apps into folders that have affirmations as labels. If, like Kelly and Megan, you feel a bit silly saying affirmations out loud, having them on your phone is a great reminder for you to step back and see just how blessed you are. Day-to-day life can get stressful, and we may have picked up bad habits we are not aware of, which is why it is important to pause and reflect now and then. We also hear about how Kelly rearranged her desktop to reduce her stress and get her mind clear. While it might seem that taking time out to put a system in place is not worth it, if it is ultimately going to streamline your daily life, then go for it! We all want our minds and spaces to be clutter-free, so we can show up as the best versions of ourselves, so why not start with something as simple as your phone and computer?

Key Points From This Episode:

When you are juggling many things, anything that aids productivity is helpful.
How Kelly and Megan approach organization and their love of labeling.
Details about the viral iPhone organization TikTok.
How Kelly has changed her app categorization on her phone.
Benefits Kelly has already seen using affirmations as folder names.
Using affirmations on your phone or computer folders is great if you don’t feel comfortable saying them out loud.
How Kelly recently rearranged her desktop using Canva.
Color theory and what different colors mean to us.
It is ok to take some time to organize something if it’s going to save you time later.
One good habit can snowball into another and spark bigger change.
The buffer that Kelly added to her wake-up time when her kids were younger.
There are small moments in the day that you can reclaim for yourself.
When you have good systems in place, you can make time for doing things that nourish you.
Do not try to fix everything at once; baby steps add up!
What to do if you live with people who you do not respect your organizational system.
You have to know what works for you when it comes to organizing your life.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

Canva

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With the rise in isolation that we have been experiencing during the COVID 19 pandemic, there has been an abundance of articles on the value of weak-tie relationships, a term that many of us are only now becoming acquainted with for the first time. In today’s episode, Megan and Kelly discuss weak-tie friendships, why they’re important, and how to get better at creating and nurturing them. We delve into the nature of weak-tie relationships, why we need them and how they differ from close friendships. Tuning in you’ll hear about some of the benefits of weak-tie relationships, like how they can improve mood, improve social skills, and even combat cognitive decline as we age. Our hosts discuss the challenges of striking up conversations with strangers when you’re introverted by nature and how where you live has a big impact on how approachable you are. Hear how weak-tie relationships broaden your worldview by challenging your assumptions about people and why that’s so important for social cohesion. Later our hosts share their tips for creating more weak-tie relationships and reflect on some of the meaningful interactions they’ve had with strangers over the years. For all this and much more, join us today as we explore how to build connection without fear!

Key Points From This Episode:

The importance of weak-tie friendships and what they add to your life.
When weak-tie friends cross a boundary and why you don’t necessarily need to reciprocate.
Why only a professional therapist can give you neutral advice.
How weak-tie friendships teach you to be a better listener and communicator.
How your weak-tie social friendships can facilitate work opportunities.
Our hosts discuss being natural introverts and how weak-tie friendships help them get out of their comfort zone.
How regular small interactions can create a sense of meaning and connection.
How weak-tie friendships contribute to happiness.
Where you live can be a big factor in how much people communicate with strangers.
How having weak-tie friendships makes you less likely to make uncharitable assumptions about people’s intentions.
Tips for being more sociable and striking up conversations with strangers when you’re introverted by nature.
How to get over social anxiety and not dwell on moments that you felt were awkward.
The positive impact that complimenting a stranger can have on their day and self-esteem.
How weak-tie friendships give you a broader and deeper worldview.
The value of weak-tie relationships within a supportive community when you are going through something difficult.
How to build confidence with small social interactions by starting small.
Why co-workers are an excellent opportunity to nurture weak-tie relationships.
Giving yourself permission to start conversations
Why having social interactions as you age is important for your cognitive health.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Humans of New York

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Many of us have the entrenched belief that once we have committed to something, we have to stick it out no matter what. But if something, be it a job, relationship, or role no longer brings you joy, do you have to stick with it if it? In today’s episode, Megan and Kelly talk about the courageous act of quitting. Walking away from something is never easy, but is it important to have faith that whatever lies ahead of you is better than what you leave behind. Conflating quitting with failing can often keep you stuck in situations that are toxic and unhealthy. Kelly and Megan share how quitting has presented them with opportunities they would not have otherwise had. We also hear about how to know when to leave and when to stay, the value in walking away from relationships and friendships that you outgrow, and why you are never too old to try something new. Thankfully, we live in a time where being your authentic self is celebrated, and this means you do not have to stick to commitments just to fulfill external expectations. You deserve a life where you are the best version of yourself, and everything you do should help you get there. So, if there is something you have always wanted to try or let go of, then this show will help give you the courage to take the first step.

Key Points From This Episode:

Our Monet shop has opened, so go check it out!
How Kelly’s upbringing influenced her views on quitting.
The younger generation views quitting so differently than the older generation.
Quitting is a big step, no matter what facet of your life it is in.
Sometimes quitting means raising your standards and getting closer to the life you want.
Work is not always going to be exhilarating constantly, but it should not be draining.
We deserve to be our authentic selves.
Quitting takes a lot of courage because it forces you to take responsibility.
How Kelly finally got the courage to leave her 10-year marriage.
You have to unlearn a lot of what you have learned in childhood.
In a relationship, it is you and your partner versus the problem, not you versus your partner.
How to know when to quit and how to know when to stick it out.
Often entrepreneurial success stories involve quitting something before finding success.
Sometimes we have to let things go to open up room for other, more fitting things.
You do not have to stay in a relationship or friendship because of shared history.
Sometimes, you also have to quit a hobby.
The right people should not judge you; they should support you.
Why Kelly believes parents should not put expectations on their children.
You do not have to publicize anything you are quitting or starting.
It is fine to be a beginner at something you try.
Happiness is a choice that we make and it is what we are on earth to feel.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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We so often hear about the importance of putting effort into dating your partner and being intentional about spending time with them, but what about dating yourself? As moms and wives, we are usually at the very bottom of our list of priorities, which takes us further away from who we are. In today's episode, we talk about how to date yourself. The relationship we have with ourselves will last our whole lives, and it is so important that we put time into cultivating and nurturing this connection. If you don't feel comfortable being alone, that is fine, but it is something you can grow to love. It is all about taking baby steps. We talk about the difference between self-care and dating ourselves, and hear about some solo date activities you can do. Alone time does not always have to be lavish; it just has to be something that you enjoy. We also talk about the pressure around getting into partnerships, how we can lose ourselves in relationships, the importance of normalizing time for ourselves, and reclaiming our identities outside of our roles. Our relationship with ourselves is for life, so it's time to start putting effort into it!

Key Points From This Episode:

How Kelly and her husband prioritize date nights.
Why Megan has put so much effort into dating herself.
As moms and wives, we are often right at the bottom of our list of priorities.
Our relationships with ourselves are the most important ones we have.
Even though Kelly enjoys her own company, she does not prioritize time alone.
The role that travel plays in opening your mind.
Why it is so important to learn to enjoy spending time alone.
The pandemic has allowed us to reflect on the activities that we make time for.
Mom guilt is a real thing when it comes to spending time by yourself.
Differentiating between dating yourself and self-care.
People are not thinking about why you show up somewhere alone, so don't worry!
If you feel super awkward hanging out alone, you can use a prop to look like you are busy.
We don't have to wait for other people to validate our interests.
It is completely normal to do activities without our partners.
If you don't spend time alone, you won't ever discover what you like.
When you spend time alone, you model this healthy behavior for your children.
It is all about reclaiming who we are as women.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Air, water, food, and sleep; these are the four essential elements that literally keep us alive. Most of us don’t have a problem getting enough air or food or water, but a lack of sleep is a problem that so many people struggle with. So, today’s episode is dedicated to this vital, yet too often neglected, part of our lives; we’re going to help you get better sleep! In order to make sure you get enough sleep, you need to learn to set boundaries for yourself. For example, not scrolling on your phone before bed, allocating specific times for watching TV, and deciding on a non-negotiable bedtime that ensures you get the hours of rest that you need. There are also numerous other sleep improvement tips that Kelly and Megan have to share, some from their own personal experience, and some from research that they have done. Sleep contributes hugely to quality of life, so if you are someone who struggles to sleep, don’t miss this episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

Kelly and her daughters’ experiences of insomnia.
Megan describes her relationship with sleep.
How Kelly has been training herself to wake up later in the mornings.
Why Kelly always has her phone in her bedroom while she sleeps, and reasons she knows this is not good for her quality of sleep.
The bad morning habit that Megan has adopted.
Why you should say no to screens of all types before bed.
Examples of ways to develop healthy habits around watching TV.
Products which help Kelly and her husband fall asleep.
Benefits of valerian root.
Types of noises which can be very helpful for falling asleep, and types of noises which are likely to keep you awake.
Although Megan and Kelly aren’t good at it, journaling is a practice that can positively impact your sleep patterns.
Effective ways to release tension that builds up throughout the day, and how this will improve your sleep.
The multitude of reasons that sleep is important (on top of literally keeping us alive!).
Apps which make meditation accessible, and how meditation impacts sleep.
Examples of visualization techniques which can help with falling asleep.
Don’t ingest sugar and caffeine before you go to bed!
How keeping your bed a sacred space just for restful activities can improve your sleeping habits.
Having a set bedtime is not a practice that is only beneficial for children.
The importance of being able to set boundaries for yourself, and with other people.
How Kelly feels when she gets less than six hours of sleep, and how she deals with it.
Sleep tracking apps, and how they can help you sleep better.
How food and medication can impact your sleep.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Headspace

Calm

Pillow

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

Tweetables:

“It doesn't matter what the sound is. If it's something that you are used to hearing every night, it just becomes your natural sound machine. It’s weird how quiet the world is when you don't have something you're used to just listening to every night like that.” — Megan Block [0:24:46]

“I am about writing your to-do list, or things that are in your head for the next day, the night before. It is something that is therapeutic, and gets your mind off your mind and onto pap

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Do you feel like you are surviving instead of thriving? It might be because you spend all your time doing: maintaining a full-time career, doing laundry, looking after your kids, and grocery shopping. On those rare occasions that you do have free time, you are still likely doing things, like scrolling on your phone and watching TV simultaneously. We know we are both personally guilty of this! Today’s hustle culture glorifies busyness. We glorify always being productive, always being on the go, but it can be important to take a step back for the sake of our mental health. In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan share five tips for how to be a human being rather than a human doing, from focusing on one task at a time and paying attention to what defines you as a person to making realistic to-do lists, taking non-negotiable daily breaks, and making time for the things you enjoy doing. This is an important episode for every woman living in the 21st Century, where you can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that you forget to look after the most important person in your life: you! Tune in for some relatable personal insights and valuable advice for rediscovering yourself, allowing yourself some joy, and living in the moment whenever possible.

Key Points From This Episode:

Catch up with Kelly and Megan and find out what they have been up to recently.
How we personally relate to being human doings, with Kelly’s husband even calling her a hummingbird because she can’t be still.
Kelly shares her experience of living with her in-laws and the obligation she feels to clean.
Tip number one is to stop multitasking; focus on one task at a time.
Some of the multitasking fails we have encountered when trying to do too much at once.
Tip number two is to pay attention to what defines you, not just being a wife and mother.
Finding out what brings you joy and doing that, while also having a realistic timeframe.
Megan emphasizes that you don’t have to wait until your kids grow up to discover yourself.
How to ensure that your identity isn’t wrapped up in your social media presence.
Tip number three: finish the list and finish the day.
How Kelly separates her to-do lists into long-term projects and daily tasks.
Helpful tools and resources for to-do lists and scheduling, like Asana and Day Designer.
Find out why taking a non-negotiable 90-minute break every day is important to Kelly.
Especially if you are working from home, you need to assert your work-life boundaries!
Dedicating yourself to the idea of becoming a human being, rather than a human doing.
Why Kelly dedicates time to cooking a meal; how she has reclaimed it from being a chore.
Tip number four is to cool down; the benefits of being still and being present.
The importance of understanding that you don’t need to be on vacation to be still.
The fifth and final tip is to schedule fun; it helps to have something to look forward to!
How allowing yourself some joy can help you show up better in the areas you are needed.
How to be your own best friend; take the advice you would give your burnt-out bestie.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Day Designer

Asana

Kelly Castillo

Megan Block

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She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet on Instagram

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Approaching a loved one’s loss is something that comes up for most people during the course of their lives. But this is something that can be incredibly uncomfortable to navigate, and sometimes we end up behaving awkwardly, placing the emotional burden onto their shoulders. On today’s episode of She’s a Full on Monet, we introduce you to some helpful tools to help you offer an appropriate reaction to your loved one. We launch our conversation by emphasizing that although there are plenty of things you can say that is unhelpful, it’s always better to say something than to avoid speaking about the situation. We touch on why people say unhelpful things and talk about the power of making things less about the loss and more about how the person is doing. We talk about the period of grieving and how it isn’t necessary to put a limit to this, what not to say to people who have lost pregnancies and why ‘I’m thinking of you’ and ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ are the best things you can say to someone who is grieving. We talk about how your presence is more important than saying the perfect thing and touch on the danger of comparison and minimizing. Next, we chat about how the manner of someone’s passing should not impact how you approach their loved ones and dwell on the value of checking in consistently and regularly. We hope you join us for some practical guidance on how to approach a grieving loved one today.

Key Points From This Episode:

The effect of our response to a loved one’s loss.
Why it’s better to say something than nothing at all.
Why we sometimes end up saying unhelpful things.
The power of making things less about the loss and more about how the person is doing.
The period of grieving and how you should be able to process it for as long as you need to.
The danger of suggesting fun activities too soon.
What not to say to people who have lost pregnancies.
Why ‘I’m thinking of you’ and ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ are the best things you can say.
Why sharing a memory of the person who passed away is a great thing to do.
How your presence is more important than saying the perfect thing.
The danger of comparison and minimizing.
Why the manner of someone’s passing should not impact how you approach their loved ones.
The value of checking in consistently and regularly.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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If you've been a first-time parent, as both of us have, you know that you really have no idea what you need to buy for your baby as far as what you're actually going to use. So for that reason, we thought it would be a good idea to take a break from some of the heavier topics we have been discussing in previous episodes and devote to day’s show to something lighter, our picks for first-time parents! If you have a baby shower coming up, or a loved one who is expecting, these are our recommendations for the gifts that a first-time parent would need, or would want to have. Kelly and Megan have both been through the rounds of parenthood enough times to know exactly what you’ll need. At the end of the day, taking the absolute best care of your little one does not need to be expensive, which is a principle that informed the selection of products you’ll hear on today’s show. As our hosts make their special recommendations, the bonus is that they share their own personal stories about how helpful these products were to them! You’ll hear about different options for bassinets, sound machines, sling carriers, toiletries, food preparation swaddles, and a whole lot more. Our hosts also hand out a bunch of brilliant ideas for how to be the most supportive friend and give all the essential gifts that a couple will truly appreciate at their baby shower. So for an episode just brimming with value and practical steps, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

How advanced technology is becoming and all the cool new toys being made.
Challenges around buying gifts as a first-time parent; thinking kids need more than they do.
The reality is that babies just want cuddles and love and don’t know the difference between expensive and cheap items.
The sense in giving parents the practical items from the registry for their baby shower.
How unnecessary it is to buy clothes in newborn sizes because they hardly fit for long.
The value of a good night’s sleep and how the Snoo Baby Bassinet makes this possible.
How helpful it is to keep clothes to use as hand-me-downs when you have a few kids.
A cheaper alternative to the bassinet in the form of a crib mattress movement monitor.
Different white noise suggestions for babies, or gadgets that soothe them using sound.
The good use a sling carrier can be put to and a few suggestions for different options.
Baby shower gifts that are pre-done for you by the Honest Company.
A great gift idea in the form of a baby bathtub filled up with baby toiletries.
The effectiveness of the NoseFrida baby nasal respirator.
Different options for baby food makers at various price points.
How hard it is to keep the baby asleep when moving it and how swaddles can help.
Bringing a stack of diapers along with your present to a baby shower.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Snoo Baby Bassinet

Baby K’tan

The Honest Company

NoseFrida

Baby Brezza

Beaba

Pocket Nanny

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Baby Nasal Aspirator NoseFrida the Snotsucker with 20 Extra Hygiene Filters by Frida Baby

Pocket Nanny - Baby Care Timer (Round The Clock Baby Tracker) - Blue

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We have all woken up on the wrong side of the bed, and sometimes this mood can spill over into the rest of our day, causing us to have a pretty rough time with things. But you don’t have to get stuck in this funk. Today, we are talking about some practical ways you can turn things around if you have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. We talk about the transformative power of gratitude and how taking time to reflect on what you have can help uplift you. You might start out your day with a sense of dread, but when you pause and appreciate all you have, you will see things differently. Other things, like moving your body, acknowledging what you are feeling, slowing down, and making time for self-care are also great ways to shake energy that is weighing you down. It is so important to listen to your body and its needs, and sometimes, waking up on the wrong side of the bed just means you are run down, and you need to spend a day in your PJs. Do whatever is going to help you turn your day around.

Key Points From This Episode:

If you have kids and they wake up on the wrong side of the bed, it can throw you off too.
Kelly and Megan’s sleep needs and how a lack of sleep affects their moods.
The power of starting your day with gratitude and how it can turn even the worst morning around.
Simple ways to reframe the things you have to do in your day in a positive light.
Acknowledge that you do not feel great so that you can let it go.
Moving is a great way to get rid of stagnant energy and refresh your day.
Starting your day slowly can help ground you and set the tone for the day.
Why not starting your day on your phone can improve your mood.
There is no guilt in slowing down and savoring the moment in front of you.
When in her day Kelly makes time for self-care.
The challenges that come with working from home and trying to do self-care there too.
How having a to-do list helps Kelly, and the power of ticking things off her list.
The benefit of having a mental health day every once in a while.
Letting your children take personal days from school helps them establish boundaries.
Mental health is health, so you should give yourself time off to take care of yourself.
Working till you are burnt out has become unnecessarily glamorized in society.
The challenges that come with working while you are in college.
No matter how busy your schedule is, you can try at least one thing to turn your day around.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Day Designer

Headspace

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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Mothers in what is known as the sandwich generation are likely to feel more stress than any other age group as they balance the demanding, delicate acts of caring for both their growing children and their aging parents. This is a topic near and dear to our hearts and, in this episode, we discuss the struggles of the sandwich generation, how to manage some of the inherent stress and obligation, and what we can do differently once our children are in this age range and dealing with some of the same issues. Kelly and Megan also share their personal stories of life in the sandwich generation, from the pressures they experienced to the sacrifices they had to make, and we investigate why it’s so difficult to make time for self-care or reduce stress during this period of non-stop service to others. We also highlight the value of asking for help, relying on your support system, and being transparent with your employer, as well as the importance of making and communicating a plan for your own end of life care so that, when your children enter the sandwich generation, you can alleviate some of their stress. Tune in today to learn more!

Key Points From This Episode:

Megan shares her personal experience of being in the sandwich generation.
A definition of the sandwich generation, which is usually in the age range between 35 and 59.
Kelly shares her personal story of caring for her grandmother, her husband, and her kids.
The pressure Megan feels to do more and be there for her father while she still has young children that need her.
One of the biggest stressors for those in the sandwich generation: guilt.
Find out why there is no official age group that qualifies as the sandwich generation.
Hear about some of the sacrifices and challenges that come with caring for elderly parents.
Why it is difficult to make time for self-care, take time off, or reduce stress during this period.
How to make sure you don’t slip into long-term unhealthy habits because of the stress.
Self-care doesn’t have to mean a spa day; it can simply be sitting down to enjoy your coffee!
The importance of knowing when to ask for help.
What you can do for others in the sandwich generation who might need your help.
We all need a support system; why it is important to reach out to yours when necessary.
The value of being transparent and honest with your employer during this difficult time.
Why it so important to have a plan for your own end of life care and communicate it.
The financial toll that the sandwich generation bears and how long-term care insurance can help alleviate it.
Understanding the stress this period can put on your marriage and taking care to nurture it.
Don’t be afraid to go to couples’ therapy; it has the power to save your marriage!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

She’s A Full On Monet Discussion Board Facebook Group

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As women, no matter what stage of life we are in, and no matter what shape or size we are, our bodies are constantly being scrutinized by society. And through the media, companies are profiting from making us feel insecure. Celebrity diet endorsements are a very dangerous phenomenon that is tricking women and girls into believing that by drinking thin tea or wearing a corset they will look like Kim Kardashian, for example. In today’s episode, Kelly and Megan explain why this is not only far from the truth, but how the things that are being endorsed are actually often harmful to our bodies. That being said, there is also a major body positivity/body neutrality movement which is something that the hosts are passionate advocates for. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a world where all bodies are celebrated, nobody (except your doctor) has a right to comment on your weight, and your authentic self is the most beautiful thing you can be?

Key Points From This Episode:

The pervasiveness of the topics that are going to be covered in today’s episode.
Generational differences in views on weight and women's bodies.
Dishonesty that plagues the celebrity diet endorsement space.
Harm that is being caused by celebrity diet endorsements.
Examples of edibles being promoted by celebrities which can contribute to disordered eating.
I Weigh; the online community founded by Jameela Jamil and why Kelly is such a big fan.
Corsets are endorsed by the Kardashian’s but there are very serious reasons not to use them.
Dangers of the way that the media praises women who get back to their pre-pregnancy body very soon after birth.
Why those of us who aren’t celebrities should not be comparing out postpartum journeys to those who are.
Double standards that are applied to men and women’s bodies.
Kelly and Megan share personal stories about times when people have commented on their weight inappropriately.
Examples of what you should and shouldn’t say when you notice a change in someone’s weight.
The rise in advertisements that showcase different body types, colors, abilities and so on.
How Megan and Kelly helped their children maintain a neutral body image.
Vote with your dollars for the brands that align with your values.
Performative allyship; what it means and why it’s important to do research to figure out if the brands you support are hiding behind this.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

Jameela Jamil

I Weigh

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Due in part to May officially being Mental Health Month, we will be using this episode to talk about two related articles that have recently been published on the website and delve into the always important subjects of self-care, relationships, rest, therapy, and everything else that influences our mental health. The two articles in question are specifically focused on resilience and imposter syndrome, and we get into the importance of these two areas of the conversation. This episode also ties beautifully into last week's chat focusing on self-care more directly, and of course, these are topics that we will continue to explore and unpack in future conversations too! Though there is still a lot of room for improvement and progress it is worth noting just how far we have come as a collective in the way to recognize and address issues of mental health, and the societal conversations on the subject are noticeably further along than they have ever been, even just a few years ago. The pandemic and the isolation that so many people have experienced to varying degrees in the last year or so is also an important aspect of this discussion and we get into the major impacts, both positive and negative that we have seen in our lives. We also talk about some simple coping strategies for replenishing your energy, managing relationships, and engaging with inspiring content, so make sure to join us for this essential episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

Increasing your own resilience and building better coping mechanisms.
How the pandemic and isolation have impacted our health, wellness, and connection.
Making the time for self-care and allowing space for recovering and recharging.
The benefits of reconnecting with loved ones in real life, instead of just on video calls.
Reassessing the value of relationships and interactions with the people in our lives.
The therapeutic potential of creating lists and writing out goals that you want to achieve.
Picturing the worst-case scenario as a way to make things less daunting.
Finding activities that give you purpose and focusing on those!
Across the board benefits of therapy and the variety of approaches that are now widely available.
The rise of podcasts and how helpful they can be learning new tools and awareness.
Women and imposter syndrome; the array of ways these thoughts can creep in.
Acceptance of the imperfections and continual learning cycle that we are all on!
Asking for help and connecting with common struggles that are often overlooked.
The prominent figures who are helping the world make progress in the mental health conversation.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

Charlotte's Web

'Here Are 6 Ways To Build Resilience So You Can Face Adversity Head-On'

Asana

Michelle Obama

Demi Lovato

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She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

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When you have chosen to put yourself in the spotlight, and people look up to you, there are standards you are expected to meet. While more celebrities and influencers have gained followers through being real and authentic, there is no doubt a line that you cannot cross. Where is this balance between being an idealized version of yourself and being authentic? This is not an easy question to answer, and it is one we try to tackle in today’s episode. Rachel Hollis is an author, speaker, and blogger who built a brand off a no-nonsense, straight-shooting take on life. Two of her recent TikToks faced backlash, and the way she handled it did not bode well for her brand. While we are not here to judge or shame her, we believe that she missed an opportunity to show those who look up to her how to handle tough situations with grace. We are human, which means that we will make mistakes, but it’s how we handle these slip-ups and the lessons we choose to learn from them that define our character. We talk about the value of apologizing properly, the importance of normalizing learning, being aware of how your words impact others, and taking responsibility for your actions.

Key Points From This Episode:

What's going on with Megan and her children’s school schedule.
Why Kelly never identified with Rachel Hollis’s work.
Two of the controversial TikToks Rachel made and the backlash she faced.
How Megan came to find Rachel during the pandemic and what she learned from her.
The obligations you have when you choose to put yourself out there.
Why Rachel’s response to the backlash she received contradicts her whole brand.
As a role model, people are listening to what you are saying.
This was a great opportunity for Rachel to show her followers how to handle challenges with grace.
If celebrities want to benefit from their privileges, they have to accept being held accountable.
We should work towards a culture of openness and learning.
One of the difficulties around divorce is struggling with other people’s perceptions.
When someone in the spotlight makes a mistake, everything in their life is under a microscope.
How Khloe Kardashian handled her leaked photo situation.
You never know how your words will be received, so be careful about what you say.
What a sincere apology entails: actionable steps of how you will fix what you have done.
Being defensive is a natural response, so slow down before you respond properly.
The disappointment Megan felt as a fan of Rachel’s.
Cancel culture isn’t going to create the spirit of learning our society needs.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

'Rachel Hollis Profits Off Of Being “Unrelatable” And The Internet Is Calling Her Out'

Girl, Wash Your Face

Girl, Stop Apologizing

‎Rise Together Podcast

Will Smith

Chrissy Teigen

Khloé Kardashian

Karen Carpenter

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals

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Welcome to the first episode of She’s a Full On Monet, a digital lifestyle magazine for women. Every week, our editor, Kelly Castillo, and contributor, Megan B, do a deep dive into articles and topics covered on the site. In today’s episode, we discuss seven tips to become a healthier version of yourself. With the added stress and pressure of pandemic, many of us fell into some less-than-ideal habits. It is fine to get off track because life happens, but getting back in the saddle does not have to be overwhelming. In fact, we believe that it is better to start small, and by letting the changes compound, you will see big cumulative effects over time. Some of the tips we share in this show include drinking more water and how to trick yourself into being hydrated, the value of intentional deep sleep, how to ensure you are eating balanced meals, and the value of moving your body in whatever way you can. As women and mothers, we often tend to put our self-care on the backburner, but we have to change this way of thinking. When we show up for ourselves by meeting our needs, we can be better for everyone in our lives. We look forward to having you on this journey with us!

Key Points From This Episode:

Get to know Kelly and what She’s a Full On Monet is all about.
You can start out small when making the transition to a healthier life.
Megan’s personal experience in making lifestyle changes and how her life has shifted.
It is important to be gracious with yourself when you embark on a new journey.
Drink more water; add fruit if you need to make it taste better
Some of the benefits that come with drinking more water.
How Kelly weaned herself off of sugary drinks.
Be sure to get enough, good quality sleep.
Establish a healthy sleep hygiene routine; put the phone away.
The benefits of tracking your sleep and what Kelly has noticed by tracking hers.
Avoid things that stimulate you before you go to bed.
FFPP eating: have fat, fiber, plants, and protein on all your plates to ensure balance.
You can still eat yummy treats when you go out or order in!
Move your body, and be creative when you can’t go to the gym.
The way you feel after you move your body is unmatched by anything else.
The importance of getting outside as often as you can.
Being in nature helps you be more present and in tune with your surroundings.
How you can help your kids release pent-up energy.
Learn to check in with yourself and self-soothe in healthy ways.
No matter how hard it is as a mom, you have to take time for yourself.
We should take care of ourselves as well as we take care of those in our lives.
The important question to ask yourself if you feel like you might be overindulging.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Castillo

She's A Full On Monet

She's A Full On Monet on Twitter

Tempur-Pedic

SugarBear Sleep

Kelly LeVeque

Body Love

GoNoodle

She's A Full On Monet: Recent Episodes

Kelly Castillo