Pretty Over Perfect: Recent Episodes
Jessica and Michelle
Perfection is an illusion sold to us a thousand ways a day. Join best friends, Jessica and Michelle, as they discover the beauty in the messiness of real life and find joy in the every day by embracing simplicity, creativity and a little sparkle.
Kids are making wish-lists and dreaming of presents - let’s also get them involved with the joy of gift-giving. In this bite-sized episode of POP, I’m sharing three practical ways to bring kids in on the fun of giving gifts!
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@prettyoverperfect
My aunt is a hostess-extraordinaire and the one I’ve learned so much from when it comes to food, entertainment, mission and ideas for welcoming people into our homes and taking care of them. You’ll learn so much from her perspective that hosting is a skill we can grow into by opening our homes with the desire to love and serve, and learning from our mistakes and successes as we go.
She covers diet restrictions, favorite recipes, small touches that make a big difference and so many ideas for events! I can’t wait to incorporate them myself, and I know you’ll love her thoughts, too!
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@prettyoverperfect
Everyone wants to get a littler cozier this time of year - but just what kind of cozy is right for you? Let's explore with the four energies - whether you're fun-loving, comfort-seeking, a go-getter or a process perfecter, knowing which fabrics, colors, textures, patterns and design elements will work best for you helps you unlock your cozy season in an all new way!
Take the Energy and Design quiz to find out which design style suits your energy!
If you need a refresher on the Four Energies, we've discussed them before:
Build a Wardrobe to Match Your Unique Energy and Show Off Your Personality
Design According to Your Energy Type
The Energy Types in Crisis
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@prettyoverperfect
We can’t hide who we truly are in crisis - and no one else can, either. Which is why it’s good to understand people’s natural energies when dealing with stressful situations. When we understand why and how we tick, we can also extend grace to others as they handle things - even if they are handling it differently then we want them to .
Do you know your energy type? Take the quiz here!
Type 1s are light and bubbly and desire fun. They bring joy and inspiration and are full of ideas.
Type 2s are calm and peaceful and they want comfort. They bring harmony, security and sensitivity.
Type 3s are go-getters, full of energy and desire results. They are great at getting things accomplished and moving forward.
Type 4s are precise and perfectionistic, they want respect. They are great at improving processes and making things better.
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@prettyoverperfect
We all want to create and be a part of a village of support for our children, and the teachers at our schools are a huge part of that. Marcela is here as a former classroom teacher and current teacher educator to talk about homework, attention spans and how to support your children as students at home and in the classroom.
Hear Marcela’s last episode all about living a life of abundance here.
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@prettyoverperfect
Pretty Over Perfect in Real Life - come hang out with Michelle and Erica as they chat about implementing the systems and skills we talk about here to turn Erica's house into a real life dream home! Together they turned her chaos into calm and overcame the overwhelm so her family can finally live the way they've always wanted to in their home.
And check out the brand-spanking-new PrettyOverPerfect.com
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@prettyoverperfect
We all have to feed ourselves and our families, but if the traditional idea of meal planning doesn’t work well for your family (or it makes you feel trapped), this is the episode for you! Simple steps to create your family’s very own fusion restaurant. Plus! How to create a master grocery list and bonus ideas for adding a little zhuzh to your cooking!
Cookbooks I love:
Cravings: Hungry for More
Come On Over
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
100 Recipes You’ll Make Forever
The Joy of Cooking
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@prettyoverperfect
Personal trainer and all-around amazing superhuman, Georgia, joins us to talk about simple ways we can rethink nutrition, get moving and fuel our bodies for the performance of life.
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@prettyoverperfect
I'm excited to bring a special guest, my friend, Chaleah, to talk about parenting through a tough situation - her husband's deployment. We dive into her strategies to set herself up for success, as well as the things that bring her joy while solo parenting for long periods of time.
Her recommendations:
3 Minute Gratitude Journal
Grow Bags for transportable gardens (and the plants don't get root-bound like they do in pots!)
For older kids, I love the Gratitude Journal for Teen Girls and Moms.
Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!
@prettyoverperfect
Today I'm joined by my bookworm teenager, Ellie, as we talk all about how to get kids reading - with our favorite books for kids in all age categories.
Here are some of our favorite books:
Picture Books (Babies and Toddlers)
Sophie's Squash
Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch
I Love You the Purplest
Read-Aloud Chapter Books (Preschoolers)
A Little Princess
The Wild Robot
The 101 Dalmations
Mary Poppins
Connect with me on Instragram to see more!
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@prettyoverperfect
Summer trips are calling - so let’s get packing! Listen for our top tips for packing lightly with families and enjoying your trip more as a result - having just what you need and not being weighed down with extra baggage!
Ask your local library for audio book devices like Playaway.
Interconnecting headphones are great for kids sharing a backseat and an audio experience.
I wasn’t aware of these when my kids were in boosters, but I love the idea of an inflatable booster for travel!
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@prettyoverperfect
Say that ten times fast! Click here for our Summer Essentials PDF - everything you need, all in one place, for ultimate summer planning! BONUS!! I've included some of our family's favorite ways to have fun - in case you need inspiration!
Summer is such a wonderful time of year - let's fully embrace it by setting our intentions, creating a framework, building a bucket list, coming up with a repeatable meal plan and then... letting go to enjoy what is before us.
No matter what ages and stages your family is in this year, this episode is meant as a little refresher on creating a season based on your goals and values.
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@prettyoverperfect
Whether you’re primarily an Upholder (loves a to-do list), Obliger (rises to the occasion for others), Rebel (desires freedom) or Questioner (loves to know how things work), we’ve got tips for maintaining systems - for you and the people living in your home with you!
Home are ecosystems with many different tendencies in play. Understanding how everyone responds to expectations can help us set up and maintain systems that help us love each other, and love each other well!
Resources:
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
Video Interviews with Each Tendency
Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
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@prettyoverperfect
Last episode you cleaned out your closet, now its time to figure out what really "feels like you" by learning about your energy type and how you can best dress to support your natural flow in the world!
Based on Carol Tuttle's Dress Your Truth program, this episode will walk you through 4 energy types and how to dress accordingly - colors, silhouettes, shapes, patterns and types of fabrics.
Plus! Which Disney characters are which energy type - just for fun!
Another episode on building a wardrobe that's perfect for you!
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@prettyoverperfect
You Need a System - for figuring out your signature style and containing that closet chaos! Well, we've got one for you!
Let's look at your current wardrobe as your many micro-attempts at defining your style. You've bought things here and there over years thinking, "Maybe this is me." Well, now we're going to look through all those choices and figure out what really is YOU!
We've got a method for meaningfully sorting through your clothes, evaluating and understanding what you truly like and merchandising your wardrobe (to make it the best place for you to shop every morning).
References:
Episodes about Defining Your Style: Creating a Signature Style and Curating a Fabulous Wardrobe for Who You Are Right Now
Our favorite website for understanding and dressing for your body type is The Concept Wardrobe.
Words to Describe Your Wardrobe - Pick 3-5 to inspire you - or write your own!
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@prettyoverperfect
What is a Drop Zone - well, any place you tend to drop stuff in your house. We all have them, so let's solve them! We're figuring out how to tackle the ongoing clutter of Drop Zones - mail, sentimental items, kids' clutter, returns to be made, and ongoing projects.
And a Go Zone - ideally helps you get out the door smoothly. This is a one-stop shop for your keys, wallet, backpack or diaper bag and snacks to get through the day!
Drop Zone Organizers We Love
How to unsubscribe from junk mail and credit card offers. (Takes about 5 minutes on two different forms.)
Did you know you can get your documents shredded at UPS for $1/pound - or less if you have a lot! Just take it to your local UPS store.
Waterproof, Fireproof Document Bag paired with Simple File Folders
Magazine Holders for keeping kids' artwork until it is transferred to their Art Binders
Decorative Flip Top Box for kids' personal art and keepsake collections (available in every color and decor theme under the sun to match their rooms!)
Go Zones Organizers We L
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@prettyoverperfect
Michelle brings our editor (and her husband) to answer listener questions about Kitchen Systems.
Tune in to find out how to tackle that kitchen mess at the end of a long day, how to zone your fridge and what to do about leftovers!
Click here to learn how to preheat your stainless steel pans to make them nonstick!
These Brightroom Organizers can be confined to keep the space under your sink from becoming a black hole!
Or this one!
I also like these clear bings for stacking storage!
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@prettyoverperfect
We're beginning a new Spring Cleaning series all about how systems help us tackle everything in the home that needs our time and attention. When we create a system for how things get used and maintained, we are give ourselves the gift of a smoothly operating home, as well as more free time to pursue our work, hobbies and dream lifestyle.
We're starting with the kitchen - the heart of the home - with a few systems in place we can make this area run efficiently, making meal times, mornings and clean up easier for everybody.
Plus! 7 Tips for running your kitchen like a pro!
Some kitchen items we recommend:
Trash-Can Pull Out for Bottom Mount Kitchen Cabinet
Boot Tray - for boots or corralling crumbs and spills.
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@prettyoverperfect
The countdown to competition day has begun! Jessica breaks down her decision to compete in the Mrs. Utah pageant and tells us all the things going into her preparation. Jessica also shares her platform: The Mom Refresh Movement - all about empowering overwhelmed moms to regain their sparkle through simple and doable habits centered around Fuel, Rest, Editing, Sparkle and Help.
To subscribe to the MomLetter and get weekly tips and ideas for self-care in motherhood, click here!
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@prettyoverperfect
Today we're discussing Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies - an idea she puts forth about how people tend to react to both inner and outer expectations, whether they readily meet them or tend to resist. As with any method of categorizing how people approach the world, we find this helpful for understanding how we (and the people we love) end up in the same situations over and over again.
The Four Tendencies are
- The Upholder, who readily meets inner and outer expectations, but has a hard time letting themselves off the hook for anything (even when it makes sense to do so)
- The Obliger, who readily meets outer expectations, but may struggle to stick to goals they've set for themselves
- The Rebel, who questions both inner and outer expectations and may have a hard time being accountable to anyone
- The Questioner, who wants to thoroughly investigate any outer expectation before making it an inner one, which they will often stick to
We need all of these approaches to the world to make it go round. We each rely on the other strengths to smooth over our weaknesses and vice versa.
To find out your tendency, take the quiz here.
To read a quick overview of the book, check out this summary by Alex Chen.
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@prettyoverperfect
For Valentine’s Day, we’re talking all about connecting with our nearest and dearest, our broader communities and even perfect strangers.
Michelle recommends “Gratitude Journal for Teens Girls and Moms” and this article: “The problem with donating our dopamine to our phones, not our friends” by Tonya Mosley.
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@prettyoverperfect
We’re big fans of a family meeting: a once-a-week time set aside for discussing everything the family needs. It can be practical, philosophical and everything in between. Whether you start by lighting candles, making waffles or flopping on the couch, it’s a great place for the family to work through conflict in a less-emotional state, build character skills, set intentions and work out the kinks of daily life. It can be as formal or as informal as you’d like - and there’s only one prerequisite - that you do it!
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@prettyoverperfect
We're closing out 2024 with a look back at our favorite things: memories, challenges, rituals, lessons learned and mantras that go us through. Plus- how we invite our families to spend some time in reflection and setting intentions for the New Year.
Michelle's Favorites:
Primrosia Dual-Tip Markers for Writing, Journaling, Doodling
Paperage Spiral Bound Notebooks (in different colors to keep track of what's inside)
Facial Cupping with Sakina Di Pace
Jessica's Favorites:
Reusable Under-Eye Patches (store in the fridge for extra refreshment)
Born to Shine by Kendra Scott
If you want to do some reflecting and intention setting with us, you can print the prompts we're using with our families here: Reflections & Resolutions
They are meant to be printed and cut in half for being easily displayed or kept in a notebook for future reference!
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@prettyoverperfect
Have you ever heard of kin-keeping? It’s the emotional labor of maintaining and strengthening family ties and involves all the organizing of holiday events, wrapping of gifts and keeping of traditions. If you are the kin-keeper in your home this episode is for you: we’re talking about the power and joy of this role, as well as ideas for decreasing the burden it entails so we can enjoy all the keeping of the kin that we are so busy doing.
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@prettyoverperfect
We're all about hosting for the holidays - and whether you've got big or small gatherings planned, we've got tips on how to save money, make the little things count, create meaningful conversation and welcome your guests with grace and calm.
Plus, we dive into the difference between warm and cool hosts, our feelings about being a little bit extra, and how we know which of us is the older millennial.
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@prettyoverperfect
On today's episode we propose an expansion on the best ideas of gentle parenting, but with the addition of some power for parents - moving past imposter syndrome so prevalent in our generation to compassionate, competent and confident parenting.
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@prettyoverperfect
We are re-airing this fan favorite episode all about the hyggely lifestyle: leaning into all things cozy, warm and intimate in this otherwise cold and crummy time of year. This episode is based on the book The Little Book of Hygge (which makes a great holiday gift, IMHO) and covers the ten tenets of hygge: atmosphere, presence, pleasure, equality, gratitude, harmony, comfort, truce, togetherness and shelter. Enjoy!
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@prettyoverperfect
The play-based childhood, essential to thriving in adulthood, has been on a rapid decline in the past few decades, priming the way for a phone-based childhood. We discuss the reasons we as parents feel we have to overprotect kids and how to talk ourselves through that in order to bring back a real childhood for our kids: real connections, real play, real experiences and real goodness.
We are not zero-screens families, but rather value giving our children the experiences they need over simulated interactions that leave kids anxious, depressed and worse.
Much of this discussion is based on the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and we recommend you read it!
If you want more info on the necessity and joy of play for kids and adults, check out this episode.
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@prettyoverperfect
Today we've got seven ways to make your day better, and the science behind why they work.
In our busy lives it can be easy to forget to make time to do the things that will actually make us feel alive, and happy about it - connecting with our communities, getting a breath of fresh air, creating, problem solving, and making room for serendipity.
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@prettyoverperfect
Today Michelle interviews her friend, Marcela, a teacher on special assignment who is also pursuing her doctorate in education while raising her two young girls and juggling family life with grace alongside her husband. She shares her unique experience on raising a multi-lingual and multi-cultural family all while claiming a life of abundance and every day luxury for herself. She offers a great perspective on co-parenting while both parents work full-time, as well as insights on how she feeds her busy family and takes time every day to soak in life’s beauty.
After the first few weeks of a new school year shake out, we have the opportunity to sync up our schedules and iron out any wrinkles in our systems for a smooth school year. Whether you've got pre-k or high school students, we're bringing our best tips for calendar maintenance, meal prep, after-school activities and more. Plus, when to acknowledge it's too much and how to let go, so you can actually enjoy and embrace the chaos of this time of life.
Creating a signature style is a great way to show off your personality and passions before even speaking. Let’s dive into assessing and determining a personal, timeless style by first going through the building blocks we already own, then adding accessories and defining our style!
“Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.”
We’re taking Dolly Parton’s words to heart and determining the first part of our personal brand - which develops over time to help inform us as to where and how to spend our limited time and energy.
We’re diving into questions like:
“What is your purpose and your passions (long term and short term).”
“What are you known for?”
“What do you want to be known for?”
“How are your spending your time lately?”
“What are you up to/listening to/ interested in/ excited by?”
“What’s on your list for your life?”
“What’s on your list for this season?”
Have you ever heard of a philosophical razor? It’s a rule of thumb or principle used to shave off unnecessary thoughts or explanations or to determine the next best course of action. There are a whole bunch of interesting razors we can use every day to let the little things go, seek simple solutions, give people the benefit of the doubt and build our own luck. Listen as we discuss razors high and low, as well as our own personal razors we’ve developed to help us make quick decisions and live according to our own principles.
For more on razors, check out this article and this one, too.
Minimalism is a philosophy we’re all familiar with - but it’s tenets can be used far beyond household possessions. It’s not just about stripping down what is not worth keeping, but also about letting the things that matter most to us take up the majority of our time and attention. O
In this episode we’re exploring what minimalism can teach us about our wardrobes, mindless consumption, constant influx of ideas, never-ending to-do lists, long-term storage and nighttime routines.
Check out this episode for more on curating a wardrobe you love!
From sleep training to screen time, there are so many ideas out there for parents. We review some of the ideas that have worked well for us, as well as ideas we’ve changed our minds about. Parenting is a constant challenge to grow and learn alongside our kids, and learning means we don’t always do things right the first (or second or third) times. Thankfully, it’s a long term game, so we get to make adjustments as we go.
Michelle recommends the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt for a call to action regarding kids and screens, as well as many helpful ideas about how to give our kids the play-based childhoods they need in order to thrive.
Catch up with us as we share our favorite fiction and non-fiction reads for summer, podcasts and music we've had in our ears lately and what we're doing with our kids on the hottest day of summer.
Jess's Favorites
Books
The Selection Series
12 Dancing Princesses Series
You're the Girl for the Job
Habits of the Household
Podcasts
A Secret Tool to Keep Your Kids Entertained This Summer
Unpacking Panic Attacks and Emotional Wellness
Michelle's Favorites
Books
Where'd You Go Bernadette
Today we’re bringing you 7 tips for enjoying summer with the kids home - whether you’re a working or at-home parent during these months of freedom, and yes, some chaos. We’re all about setting our intentions for the season ahead so as to fully embrace the extra time we get with our little ones - and set flexible frameworks for everyone to enjoy. We chat about what to do about summer meals, snacks and slowing down!
We’re back with part two of organizing with kids in mind: talking household routines, systems and schedules that keep us from drowning. We discuss how and when to purge without making your family hate you, plus how to get out of the endless cycle of accumulate/purge. We also talk about setting up routines that keep the home from getting out of hand, and how to get kids involved with chores and feeling like a part of how the house functions.
Organizing with kids in the home is a whole new ballgame - and the family’s needs change frequently through ages and stages. Today we tackle some of the common sticking points for young families: toys and laundry. We discuss how we are handling these in our own homes, as well as guiding principles for everyone. Finding solutions that work for our families begins with discovering what kind of maintainers we want to be, and what level of cleanliness or organización we desire. Let’s get started!
Everyone needs some tools for remaining the adult in tense parenting situations. Jessica and Michelle go back and forth about the different stages of childhood and how to handle big emotions from someone going through it, and someone looking in from the outside.
Join us for a fun episode discussing all the latest: Barbiecore, Unexpected Red, Dumb Homes Paper Planners, Girl Dinner, Maximalism and more! We discuss these trends and whether we think they’re a bop or a flop.
We all need more fun in our lives: fun creates bonds and lowers stress. It can be easy to put on the back burner, but the truth is that fun deserves to be prioritized in our lives. So we’re strategizing for incorporating more fun, and giving out some free (or nearly free) ways to have more fun with your spring break!
Have you ever heard of the Pennebaker Method? It’s a protocol of using expressive writing to move through traumatic or stressful situations in order to find more peace and hope in their aftermath. It’s completely free and available at anytime to anyone, which is one of the reasons we recommend it - no matter what you’re going through it could help! People who use the method widely report feeling much better in body and mind after the practice. Here we discuss it in detail and share our personal experiences using it to work through our own real life hang ups.
If you need to remember the protocol for your own use remember the Es: write for at least 15 minutes, on 4 separate days about the Event, your Emotions (at the time and now) and the Effects on your life.
Though it can be an intense process to write expressively about something painful in our past, we also discuss the science of why it works to face these things head on. When we bring the situation out of our subconscious through language, we can handle it with our whole mind, which helps our systems regulate and our spirits find peace.
This episode is based on information from the Huberman Lab Podcast: A Science-Supported Journaling Protocol to Improve Mental and Physical Health
When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, a dream, a job or a home, your brain enters an anticipatory state seeking resolution. This process requires neurological rewiring and is painful and chaotic. But, when we understand what grief is, we are also better able to move through it effectively, finding peace and hope.
As humans we are united in our fragility, and all of us either have or will experience grief in our lives. Knowing a little bit about what grief is in our brains and bodies can prepare us for our own experiences, and help us love others well in theirs.
This episode is largely based on information from the Huberman Lab: The Science and Process of Healing from Grief.
Reframing is a powerful tool that allows us to expand our perspective and grow from our instinctual response to stimuli in order to create actions, thoughts and habits more in keeping with who we truly want to be. Our automatic response to a situation or season may not serve us or our futures very well, so we discuss 6 scenarios we are currently practicing reframing in our own lives. We talk about expansive gratitude, romanticizing our season of life, and being generous with our love. We also answer questions like, "What to do with guilt,” and wonder what it would look like if we lived our daily routines as if we had begged to be here.
It is increasingly easy in our culture to neglect our need and desire for rest - a break from all our striving to simply be in the moment, whether to enjoy what we are doing, process events and emotions or build relationships. But what the heck even is rest? Why is it so difficult for us to allow ourselves to rest? On this episode, Jessica and Michelle discuss all this, plus ways we can prioritize and sanctify rest, giving our minds and bodies the relief we need and crave. Plus, practical ways we are incorporating intentional rest into our lives this year.
The book, "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker was mentioned, as well as this podcast episode featuring Jennifer Dukes Lee on Holy Hygge. Michelle loves this episode of the BEMA podcast about the story behind the story of Creation and the command to rest.
Michelle is joined by her sister, Georgia, to talk about how they incorporate the 5 Ss of Emotional Well-Being into our lives every day: Sunshine, Sweat, Sleep, Social and Synergy.
We got these 5 Ss from this episode with Joy Bouchard. And if you want to hear more from Georgia Filler, you can here. She recommended the Bryant Ferate Podcast which you can find here!
Christmas Break can be a time of magic and memories, and also chaos, contention and disappointment. We asked our audience for questions on common Christmas Break issues and are answering questions about how to work through entitlement with kids, boredom when stuck inside for long periods of time, and why everyone feels the post-holiday blues (and some thoughts on how to change that). We're putting our theories about prioritizing peace into practice and sharing tips on what to do during that lull between Christmas and New Year's.
Entertaining can be such a focus of the holidays, but what if we shifted our focus to gathering. Gathering our loved ones together for the community we all crave. Our main goal is not to wow, but to give people a place to be loved. We’ve got simple ideas for inviting and delighting, plus no nonsense food ideas, too.
This episode is partly inspired by an episode on Hospitality featuring Shauna Niequist. You can find it here!
We're applying our home organization method to the holidays - helping ourselves reflect on holidays past in order to set our intentions for the ones ahead, identifying sticking points and things we really want to recreate. Then, we're installing the system, making sure we make the big things the big things, so we know what we can say yes (and no) to. And of course, we're talking about beautifying our homes without getting buried under the clutter or buying everything advertised to us.
Follow us on Instagram - @prettyoverperfect where we'll be sharing a few of our favorite low clutter or clutter-free gift ideas!
Jessica recommendsYour Minimal-ish Holidaysby Desirae Enders.
Michelle's favorite colored pencils for her kids, plus their favorite Crunch Labs subscription box.
Today we're getting our homes organized before the chaos of the holidays sets in!
We're re-evaluating sticking points in our homes, decluttering, sharing our favorite everyday storage solutions and thoughts on how to maintain the systems we have in place. And if a system isn't working, that means it's broken, not you! Join us as we make our homes a sanctuary of calm and joy for the coming months of cold.
A few items mentioned in this episode:
Some no-nonsense hooks for just about anywhere (entry way, closet, bathroom, mudroom, garage, etc.). Don't forget your wall anchors!
An over-the-door organizer, for shoes and anything else you can think of. Michelle uses them for corralling seasonal gear (hats and gloves or sunscreen and goggles).
Food storage containers with one-size-fits-all lids! Plastic or Glass
Branch Basics: one solution to create all the cleaning products you need! (Might seem kind of spendy, but it's replaced all Michelle's glass, kitchen and bathroom cleaners for the last 6+ months and saves a lot of hassle!)
Foaming Handsoap Refill Tablets
Fall is here and whether you love or hate it, the changing of seasons invites us to pause, reflect and allow for rebirth. In this episode we discuss fall activities and Halloween plans, rain-proofing our hair and whether or not Travis Kelce is as big of a deal as Taylor Swift.
It's been 100 episodes of Pretty Over Perfect and we're debriefing where we started, what we've learned and some of our favorite things we've picked up along the way! Thank you for being here with us - it means the world to share this journey with you!
Just a few of our favorite episodes mentioned here:
Home Design According to Your Energy Type
Dressing Like the Protagonist of Your Own Life
Our Favorite Parenting Books
Emotional Wellness Habits with Joy
Being Thrifty and Industrious Just Like Our Grandmothers
Let's Play!
Constructive Conflict with Dennis McGreevy (Situation, Behavior, Impact Model)
Episodes 1 and 2 of Building Happy Families
Rituals of Repair and Reconnection with Steve Waters
Books we recommended here:
The Blessings of a Skinned Knee
Hunt, Gather, Parent
Bringing Up Bebe
The Child Whisperer
Fall is calling and with it, we're back in the kitchen (whether we want to be or not). This week we're talking all about meal planning for busy schedules, visualizing our needs and grocery lists for the week and assembling quick meals so our families can eat together and be satisfied.
Jessica's favorites from this episode:
White Chocolate Chip Cookie Butter Cookies
Muddy Buddies
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
Cafe Rio Creamy Tomatillo Ranch
Sheet Pan Greek Nachos
Great Value Smoothie Blends
Michelle's favorites from this episode:
Yumm Bowls with Cuban Black Beans
Galaxy Cake
Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls (she makes them with 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice and 2 tablespoons cinnamon in the filling)
Reusable Grocery Bags
Jessica's back and we're talking all our favorites: summer memories, go-to meals, outfits and mantras. Plus, things what we're letting go of, what (and who) is inspiring us and how to make the mornings go smoother.
We love the book The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie.
These are Jessica's favorite running shorts. Unfortunately, the linen pants she's been enjoying are all sold out!
Here's a podcast episode with Steve Martin that Michelle loved.
And here's a black version of the jumpsuit she's loving.
Everyone is handling some kind of big project right now, whether personal or professional, concrete or intangible. Michelle is joined by her husband, Steve, as they debrief a big development project they just tackled and share their takeaways for organizing projects of any kind.
Michelle mentioned this podcast about how our projects define us Adam Grant and Brian Little, Steve mentioned the book The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. And if you’d like to take a look at the cabins they’re talking about, you can at see pictures and choose your favorite them at backwoodscabins.com
Michelle is joined by her husband, Steve, today and they talk about rituals they’ve formed over the years to protect and enjoy their relationship through all kinds of seasons.
We’re re-sharing this episode from last year all about how memories are made, how we can reframe experiences and why perfection is antithetical to happy memories! It’s always helpful to get reminders about what makes our lives truly good, especially when we have constant distractions trying to convince us we can buy or polish our ways into a good and meaningful life.
Life is throwing us a lot of... life lately! So we're re-running this episode from a couple of summers ago all about PLAY! Play brings joy to our days, but is also a great way to learn, bond, grow and pursue real life, which is often messy and amateur, but a whole lot of fun!
Michelle brings back Dennis McGreevy, a fan favorite and conflict resolution expert, to chat more about navigating the ups and downs of relationships: specifically communicating with each other, healthy conflict, and loving people when they aren’t easy to love.
For the video mentioned, “It’s Not About the Nail,” click here.
A change of seasons often brings a change of pace, and when we approach those changes with some intention we are able to get more out of that time. Michelle dives into the idea of “Expansion and Contraction” as a way of setting rhythms in the summer, a season that can become listless if left to it’s own devices.
For more on Expansion and Contraction, check out this episode of Simple Families.
It’s the Adventure Episode, just in time for summer! Michelle is joined this week by Jessica’s sister, Whitney, and they’re talking all about adventuring with kids: with everything from prepping and planning, to our mindset as we go, and how to encourage our kids and ourselves to expand horizons, grow through challenges and experience the wild wonder of the world around us.
We spend about half our lives in transitions of some kind - big transitions that shake up our lives and the little ones that come up all the time. Some transitions are joyous and others painful, but they all require us to become someone new as we embrace the change upon us. Let’s look our wolves in the eyes with creativity and courage, and practice growing in transitions.
We can choose creativity as an avenue of joy and agency in the big and little moments of life - and it is not limited to arts and crafts. Join us as we discuss multiples forms of creativity available for anyone!
We are all creative beings in some way - the whole earth has been stamped with the human desire to create. And yet, we can find ourselves having all the creativity sucked out of us these days by the need for everything to be purposeful and productive, or the pressure to perform for an unknown audience. Or maybe it’s simply a matter of feeling like we don’t have time to create anymore. Whatever it is, we’re discussing how we’re fighting back to recapture the joy of creativity in our own lives.
This conversation is based on this episode of Everything Happens with Kate Bowler featuring Liz Gilbert.
Being a happy family is not just about smooth systems and joyful moments, but also about sticking together through the chaos of life, learning to repair and having resilience. We’re diving into family mission statements (and how they can help us simplify our goals) and how telling stories helps us pass on values and hope through the oscillating nature of life.
What are the secrets of happy families? We're diving into a few things that really seem to make families happier: holding weekly family meetings where everyone evaluates how the community is working and what can be improved, and creating systems the entire family can maintain and benefit from. These are crucial steps in creating environments with less friction and more joy, and our conversation about them is inspired by The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler. We highly recommend it!
We referenced this podcast with Simon Sinek and Richard Curtis, and Jessica might be getting these suction cup drinking cups to make her life easier.
"If you're in a conflict-free relationship, you're not in a real relationship."
We all know that conflict of various kinds is a part of healthy relationships, and some relationships, especially partnerships, may have a lot of conflict as they figure out how to work as a team. Dennis McGreevy teaches leadership and development in the corporate world, and he is with us today to teach us about how we can offer constructive feedback and engage in conflict in a healthy way that allows both parties to grow. He has great insights on engaging with different conflict styles, seeing conflict from different points of view, and learning from the relationships that make our lives so rich and colorful.
For a few added points of information, here are some resources:
Patrick Lencioni on the Conflict Continuum
Simon Sinek's take on the SBI model (his is FBI)
It’s the month of love and we’re diving into relationships! This week is all about Romantic Relationships - how our long-term partnerships change over time and how we can create positive momentum and amorous feelings no matter the season we find ourselves in. From the flutter of excitement at the first kiss, to partnering together to build a life both people love, we’re offering practical points of connection for busy times and new thoughts if you feel stuck in a rut.
We’re back for Season 3 of Pretty Over Perfect and we’ve got updates for you! Jessica has big news, Michelle went on a big trip, and we’ve got a slightly different recording schedule coming this year. Hear all about it in this episode.
Jessica’s Favorite Books for Valentine’s Day
I Heart You
Bear of My Heart
The Invisible String
I Choose You Everyday and Always
We’re bringing you the last episode of the year discussing our favorite subjects we’ve covered, as well as our personal highs and lows and everything in between!
The holidays are here - with all the joy and chaos they contain! We’re discussing balancing old and new traditions, how to take each year in stride and fun ideas for gifts for friends and neighbors! Plus, how we’re avoiding burn out in our most overwhelming parts of the season and finding joy by leaning into our favorite things!
Let's get dressed to shine, not to hide!
Our world is full of endless ads and suggestions about how we could dress, which can result in feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and... like nothing ends up fitting or feeling the way we want it to. Today we're breaking down some simple concepts that can make finding clothes much simpler: from the concept of balancing the silhouette to finding colors you love to wear that express your personality and make you feel put together. You are worth investing in right now, and with a little direction you can put together curated wardrobe that makes getting dressed every day a delightful experience, in every stage and season of life!
Check out The Concept Wardrobe for a detailed explanation of the body types and how to balance them and find clothes that fit well!
This week we’re talking dressing with confidence - which is really as simple as being willing to show the world who you are and what you have to give! We hope this episode gives you permission to be wholly and wildly your unique self - from the inside out!
We’ve got specific ideas based on your energy type (like our home design for your energy type episode), as well as general thoughts on why and how to dress with confidence! A little work ahead of time can save you hours of irritation and frustration in the future!
Jessica recommends @sistersguidetostyle on Instagram!
Growing more confident may seem like an elusive goal, but we believe we can start increasing our confidence today by being compassionate, pursuing growth and setting goals, (sincerely) faking it until we make it and serving others.
And in case you missed it: Hygge inspiration from last year can be found here!
This month we’re diving into the subject of confidence: What is it? Do we have it? Can we improve it? And we’re starting off by discussing how confidence is a balance between opposites: being unapologetic and also self-reflective, knowing a lot about a little and a little about a lot, understanding that neither success nor failure is the end of the story and finally, figuring out if we’re using reasons or excuses to get out of doing challenging or uncomfortable things. We’re so excited for this topic and hope you’ll join us!
Happy Halloween! We’re talking all things death today… or really just the idea of taking care of your possessions with the final finish line in mind. Popularized as a method of sorting through one’s possession in late middle age, Swedish Death Cleaning has a lot of interesting points we can learn from no matter our age or time of life!
Today we're looking beyond magazine and advertisements to get a true sense of our personal styles by reviewing our wardrobes, favorite movie sets, as well as vacation locations and art pieces that we drawn to. By looking beyond the typical forms of interior design influence, we can find lasting style we will enjoy for a long time to come!
Cut through the noise and the trends to create a space that truly feels like you based on your energy type! Whether you are primarily Fun-Loving, Sensitive, Determined, or Serious, you can lean into interior design that supports your energy and helps you live the life you want. We're walking through each of the four main energy types and how to find styles that appeal to the principal needs of each one!
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the je ne sais quoi of great interior design, we’re going to break it down into 7 essential principles that hold true, no matter your personal style preferences. These principles can guide us to make smart interior design decisions that outlast trends and make our spaces feel really good to be in.
For our episode explaining the basic elements of energy flow and guiding principles of feng shui in your home, click here.
Today we're talking homebuying - all the possibilities and aspects to consider. Whether you rent or own, are in your forever home, or constantly on the move, we're discussing all the things we think about when considering the best home for us - from location, layout and lighting, to whether to build, buy or remodel. And, because it's us, we're going to be considering these things not just based on location and budget, but also on our core values and the vision we have for how our homes will be used and enjoyed.
We all have things to do and places to be... and are constantly learning better ways of getting there and doing them. In this week's episode, we're talking some of the strategies we use to feel accomplished and calm when tackling all the things. We're discussing big pictures dreams becoming goals and how we manage the day-to-day tasks in a timely manner.
We referenced our episode on finding and sticking to your Core Values and you can find that here: Self-Care: Living on Purpose
We’re getting back to our roots and exploring one of our favorite fall pastimes: baking! And this time we asked a real professional to join us. Sydney Nielsen spent years working as a pastry chef, started a Cake Club and is our constant inspiration in the kitchen. She’s telling us her favorite tricks she learned in a commercial kitchen, as well as inspiring us with mouth-watering recipes to keep us happy in the kitchen all season long. Check out Sydney’s Cake Club right here!
Many recipes were referred to this episode, here are a few resources:
Sheet Pan Garlic Breadsticks
Healthy Banana Bread
Apple Cake with Hot Butter Sauce
Easy Cinnamon Apples (for the top of yogurt and granola)
And the Butternut Squash Recipe is super simple:
1 part onion, chopped
3 parts butternut squash, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
Cover with cow’s milk and cook until tender. Blend until smooth. Add butter or cream for taste!
Other resources we love:
Zoe Bakes on Instagram @zoebakes
Cookie and Kate
Baking with Blondie
Tools we recommend:
Turntable
Offset spatula
Silicone baking mats
Piping bags
“Do you wake up every day both excited to and capable of channeling the best of your unique self into your family relationships, friendships, hobbies and work?” This is Dr. Kelly’s ideal of health - and as a dermatologist he knows that the skin is a lens through which we can evaluate the health of the whole body. He covers the five regulatory systems: metabolic, hormonal, immune, neurological and psychological that all impact disease, health and how we feel in our bodies and in our lives. He has so much insight into how we can improve our lives by getting more sunlight and avoiding processed foods - and he explains why these things matter so much! You will not want to miss this one!
You can find Dr. Kelly on Instagram
We talked about the dopaminergic systems in these episodes earlier this year:
Why Enough is Never Enough
How to Be Happy in an Unsatisfying World
We're here to find the goodness in the messiness of real life... and this week has been full of messiness. Jessica shares about a family accident and a neighborhood tragedy that occurred over the past week and how it's rocked her world, and left us both wondering how we can show up for people in their times of need, build better communities going forward and keep pressing into life when it's hard and vulnerable. These moments remind us that life is far from perfect, and it takes courage to keep showing up and loving each other anyway.
TW: This episode includes a discussion of self-harm.
This week is all about the things we’ve been loving lately - from our favorite foods and accessories to the best internet hacks we’ve found!
If you’re interested, here are the links to our favorite things:
Accessories
- Jessica: Bright Statement Earrings and Gold Glitter Bracelets
- Michelle: Fun shoes like Espadrilles
Skin Care Product:
- Jessica: Beauty Oil
- Michelle: Tula Skin Care and L’Oréal Toning Conditioner
Books:
- Jessica: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
- Michelle: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Internet Gadget That Actually Works:
- Jessica: Mosquito Repellant Bracelets
- Michelle: Knife Sharpener
Sources of Inspiration
- Jessica: How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana White
- Michelle: The Aesthetics of Joy email list
Summer Things We’re Sad to Put Away:
- Jessica: Market Backpack from Anthropologie
- Michelle: Fruit Floaties
It’s back to school season, and whether you have good, bad or mixed feelings about the transition, the time is upon us. So today we’re talking about getting ourselves and our kids ready for the change of pace and the new schedules. Plus: where to find the best deal on pencils, how to celebrate the season and Michelle reveals she’s a little bit obsessive about food storage containers.
These are the lunch box containers Michelle uses. Though technically for salads (apparently), they work great for separating all the parts of a lunch.
Andie Anne’s bento lunch box ideas as mentioned by Jessica.
You asked and we're answering your questions about parenting kids baby-middle grades. We’re talking taming tantrums, teaching responsibility and how to know if you’re doing enough as a parent.
We are so excited to share Jill with you this week! A mother both Jessica and Michelle truly admire, she is letting us in on her thoughts about parenting teens and pre-teens. This episode is full of parenting GOLD! Jill is so intentional, practical and fun - and we know you're going to learn so much from her - we sure did! Jill discusses teaching kids to be gracious, helping them develop their individual personalities (and how to work with their uniqueness as a parent), and how to be present and flexible for teens. She has some great points about navigating social media, too!
Jill mentioned this series she likes: "What-to-Do-Guides for Kids" by Dawn Huebner and "I Like Me Anyway" and "52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens" by Brooke Romney.
This week we chatted with our kids to ask them about how they feel loved, how they contribute to our families and what their favorite memories and traditions are! We even asked them what they think parents of kids their age should know.
In these long days of summer, all parents could use a little encouragement. We're discussing the latest in our favorite parenting books, podcasts and ideas. Parenting is an ever-evolving journey, and we discuss our thoughts on our currents ages and stages. We share our take-aways from Grit by Angela Duckworth, Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff, Bringing Up Bebe by Pameral Druckerman and The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle and A Joyful Mother of Childrenby Linda Eyre.
Our previous episodes on parenting can be found here:
Perspectives on Parenting: Discipline Starts With Me
Let's Play
Parenting Tips and Tricks We Use
Family Culture: What it Is and How We're Creating It
We don't want to live a life stuck in the past or buried under a massive pile of memorabilia, but we do want to pay attention to the evidence of good in our lives so we can carry it with us into the present and future. We're talking this week about keeping track of things or moments that are meaningful to us - from organizing our kids' artwork, to journaling our own experiences in simple, doable ways.
Resources from this episode:
Page Protectors for all that precious artwork
14,000 Things to Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer
Blake Lively's Dress from the Met Gala - skip to 3:55 for her explanation of all the beautiful details
Today we're talking tips and tricks for getting good photos. We love taking pictures - and we also realize photographs don't always do our memories justice, and in fact, can steal the moment from us. So we're chatting today about when to pull out the camera and when to leave it behind and just enjoy the present. And! If we're going to pull out the camera - we might as well get a good photo! We're sharing all our best advice on lighting and composition to get you started taking fewer, better photos of your family, friends and food, today.
Here's a brief overview of the rule of thirds in case you need a quick visual!
Summer is a great time for making memories - it feels out of the ordinary, special and free to be full of fun. But we can easily get in our own ways - so concerned about every moment being perfect that we don’t pay attention to all the good things happening around us. This episode is all about how memories are made (hint: it’s usually when things aren’t perfect), how to have real fun making them and why attention is the building block of memory. We also talk about the different kinds of memories we are capable of building at any time. We want to live a life filled with good memories, both for ourselves and our families, and this is all about how and why to do it! Bonus: Did you know you have the power to change your memories? It’s true!
Key Takeaways:
Attention is the building block of memory.
Perfection is antithetical to true fun.
Children thrive in environments where they know they are loved and supported (not in pristine environments). This doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds.
Our memories are highly suggestible - and we can choose to focus on the positive or the negative aspects of any experience.
True fun comes from playfulness, connectedness and flow - and is available to us in many places if we have the desire to look!
Books referenced in this episode:
The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price - an excellent primer on fun and how to have more of it. We’d suggest you start here if you feel like you're not having much fun these days.
Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa Genova
Jessica referenced this article on 5 Ways to Make Happy Family Memories.
Andrew Huberman has an in depth podcast called Huberman Lab.
Summer is upon us - with all it's fun, freedom and potential for friction! Today we're discussing ways we're going intentionally into this time that allows us to pursue passion projects, spend more time with family and friends and enjoy the sunshine. We're discussing how we set and manage expectations for ourselves and our families - with ideas ranging from young kids to middle schoolers. We discuss daily schedules, the 5 Ss of Summer, Hatchimal villages, themed weeks, and forts in the mountains. And we've got boredom busters for young kids, too!
The 2022 Summer Calendar Jessica uses is at 8 Minute Classes.
Jordan Page's Clipboard System can be found here.
Here's how to play Snail Hopscotch!
We are so excited to have Mallory of Oregon AgLink on our show today to tell us a little bit about the amazing world of agriculture. Though it's a system we might not think of often, or if we do it's with mixed feelings, we all depend on the work of famers to provide the food we eat. Mallory has so much to share about how the farming industry works, is all inter-connected and is constantly adapting to market demand. She demystifies common food labels you encounter in the grocery store, as well as walking us through what certain terms do and do not mean. We walked away from this conversation feeling incredibly grateful for the work of the few (only 1.3% of the population) that feed the masses, and the intricate network that gets food to our tables every day.
The documentary Food Evolution was discussed throughout the episode, and here are all of Mallory's resources she mentioned:
Safe Fruits & Veggies - Calculator to see how many servings could be eaten without any adverse effects from pesticide residue
UC Davis - Biotech Program Blog
Cornell University - Alliance for Science
The Genetic Literacy Project
Biology Fortified - Crop Modification Techniques
Australian chemistry teacher James Kennedy’s blog: infographics of fruit (Scroll past the banana in Chinese to see all English versions)
TDF Honest Farming - Find Derrick Josi @tdfhonestfarming on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube -- raises cows for milk for Tillamook cheese, ice cream, etc. (Oregon coast)
Owyhee Produce's Shay Myers growing onions, asparagus, mint, and more on the Oregon Idaho border, went viral during pandemic and can be found @shayfarmkid on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, plus has a podcast called Produce Common Sense
The Farm Babe - Michelle Miller (on most socials)
Dr. Kevin Folta - scientist, science communicator, and professor at University of Florida and hosts Talking Biotech podcast
Tamar Haspel - James Beard award winning Washington Post columnist in pursuit of a more constructive conversation on divisive food-policy issues
Michele Payn - Author of 3 books - Food Bullying: How to avoid buying BS, Food Truths from Farm to Table: 25 Surprising Ways to Shop & Eat without Guilt, and No More Food Fights, can be found on most social media and has a podcast called Food Bullying
This week we’re recapping our spring favorites: foods, activities and life lessons from our past few episodes. Jessica talks about making tiny hats for baby bears and Michelle talks about where the word “quarantine” comes from.
Michelle recommends Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek and referenced this podcast interview of Anna Lembke on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (please note that this episode contains adult content including subject matter and language).
If you’ve ever wondered where Michelle and Jessica come from, now is your chance to find out. We interviewed each of our moms about motherhood and we can’t wait for you to hear their wisdom and inspiration! Plus, you’ll get a little bonus insight into who we were growing up, and what we’re most thankful to our moms for teaching us!
Did you know Jessica's dad, Rich, is a Master Gardener? He really knows his stuff and he is here to help us get started with some gardening made accessible for anyone. If you're like us, you might want to start planting but have no idea where, when or how!
Well, today you're in luck! From taking the mystery out of tomatoes, to container gardening in limited spaces, Rich walks us through some of the basics of vegetable and landscape gardening. This episode is filled with great tips and you'll want to listen all the way to the end to hear Rich describe how enriching and therapeutic of an experience gardening can be (and as a bonus, it ties in nicely with our themes of doing hard things that are truly enjoyable for a more satisfying experience).
Rich recommends these Walls of Water for protecting seedlings and his favorite tool is this Ames Scuffle Hoe. We're pretty sure that if we get these, we, too, can be master gardeners!
Also, Michelle found out more about the Master Gardener program - and it is likely that there is one in your area through an extension of the local Universities. If you are interested in learning more, search for the Master Gardener program and the University nearest you.
Last week we posed the question, "Why is Enough Never Enough?" and now we're going to try to figure out what to do about it. We start off asking, "What even is a happy life?" We've discovered that true satisfaction comes not from clicking or bingeing or numbing but from doing hard things that matter. So this week we're talking bucket lists beyond sky diving, the elements that make up a happy life and how to envision a future where we are content.
Arthur C. Brooks has a great podcast talking about the elements of a happy life. You can hear his take here. Dr. Anna Lembke talks about how running from pain can keep you from real pleasure in this article. And Jessica mentioned Jody Moore's River of Misery podcast, where she explains the short but difficult period of time where you’re struggling most with whatever change you’re making.
Buckle up, folks! We've got a big episode today! This week we are diving right into the deep end with the question, "Why is Enough Never Enough?" Why are we constantly feeling inadequate and unsatisfied both with what we have and who we are? To find the answer we're going to get a little nerdy about neurology and talk about the brain processes at work - how dopamine is meant to serve us, but can easily be preyed upon in our tech-heavy world to turn us against ourselves. When we understand the how and why behind our impulses, we can also understand what we want to do about it moving forward - and we wouldn't leave you hanging without some practical advice on rising above in order to be the people we want to be.
Tons of resources to go alongside this episode, so you don’t just have to take our word for it:
Books
Indistractable by Nir Eyal
The Molecule of More: How A Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex and Creativity - and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race by Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman with Michael E. Long
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Dr. Anna Lembke
Podcasts
Self-Care: Living on Purpose (Our Episode about Core Values)
Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman on the Science of Success Podcast
Dr. Anna Lembke on the Muscle for Life Podcast
Stuff You Should Know: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy
Let's face it, it's not fun, but we all have to have a relationship with money. And just like organizing our homes, looking at our finances can feel like a totally daunting task, until we break it down into little doable pieces. This episode is all about money matters: from everyday budgeting to planning and saving for the future! We won't pretend to be financial experts, but we are people who have to manage our personal finances, and over the years we've learned what works for us and are now sharing it with you!
The Mint App was mentioned. We also think the Every Dollar App looks good, too.
It’s our fiftieth episode!! Woo hoo! And we’re celebrating by looking to previous generations to learn about being thrifty and self-reliant in an increasingly fast-paced and convenience-based world. We’re going over Country Living’s article, “30 Ways to Save Money Like Grandma Did.” And we’re adding our own wisdom because… it’s our podcast and we can do what we want.
This episode kicks off a whole month of watching our money and learning to be conscientious about how we use our resources, sustain our families and prepare for the future.
Did you know? Jessica’s great grandfather invented the tater-tot! It’s true! She’s going to be trying out some of these green and economical cleaners!
Michelle’s favorite ways to swap out disposable products for reusable ones (it saves money and hassle in constant replacement):
MakeUp Eraser wipes - just add water and they erase makeup better than the disposable kind. There’s an off-brand here!
Libman Wet Mop with reusable pad and refillable cleaning liquid reservoir. It doesn’t even need batteries!
Grove Co. Concentrates for household cleaners.
Mrs. Meyers All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
In this week’s episode, Michelle and Jessica talk all about real ways they maintain organizational systems: from getting started to the long haul and everything in between. Plus! Ways we keep the clutter at bay moving forward!
Take the Clutterbug quiz here to find out your organizational style! And share your results with us on Instagram!
Jessica recommends the book “Organizing for the Rest of Us”.
The next step in our organizing journey (after clarifying our vision and decluttering) is to set up systems that work for us! In this week’s episode, Jessica and Michelle talk nitty gritty for getting your most common problem areas under control. We’ll know a system is working for us when we can reasonably (and joyfully) maintain it! And of course - no organizing method would be complete without a little bit of beautifying and elevating that keeps us excited to come back and continue to care for our homes.
Michelle’s fave car trash containers can be found here and here.
If you’re looking for further reading on organizing we love Minimalista and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (it was a phenomenon for a reason!).
Originally aired in March of 2021, this rerun from last year's month of Organization is a brief overhaul of all our organizing tips and tricks. Listen in while you declutter, and we'll be back next week to share new thoughts on those problem areas we've all got in our homes!
This one goes a little long - but it’s only because we have so many ideas to share about organization - and in this first episode we are motivating ourselves by finding the “why” behind organization. We are clarifying our visions for a month of spring cleaning: creating a space that is functional and peaceful and free so we can live well. After we’ve clarified our goals, we’re tackling the second step of organization: decluttering! It’s a buzz word for a reason and we’ve got so much inspiration for rethinking what you’re keeping in your home.
Check out our episode on Feng Shui here.
Get Shira Gill’s Minimalista here.
This might seem like a funny episode to follow our last one all about finding delight in every day experiences, but trust us, they are two sides of the same coin. Expecting that every moment is going to be totally enjoyable is unreasonable and sets us up for disappointment. So, we're letting go of preconceptions of how things should be, and allowing them to just be as they are. We're practicing mental flexibility, especially in the 5 Ss of Emotional Wellness: Sunshine, Sweat, Sleep, Social and Synergy.
We talk about finding joy in the everday… but how do we actually approach rewiring our brains to see all the goodness available to us on a daily basis? It’s easy to miss moments of delight because we get caught up in expectations, worry about the future or shame about the past or even jealousy and comparison. But by paying attention and choosing to revel in the present, we can find so much (free!!) surprise and joy in the here and now.
We are so excited this week to be interviewing Joy, a licensed therapist and social worker, who is sharing with us how we can examine our own thoughts and whether or not they are serving us, and how to start forming new thoughts and habits in accordance with the changes we hope to see. She has so many concrete and practical ideas for rewiring our brains and ditching toxic mentalities for good. You don't want to miss this one! Plus, Joy explains Self-Compassion and setting ourselves up for success with the 5 S's of Emotional Wellness.
It's our favorite holiday: Valentine's Day! And we're getting ready to celebrate by talking about the simple ways we are loving our people right now: our kids, our spouses, our friends, our communities, and ourselves!
We referenced these past episodes:
Let's Play and Connection: Love Languages, Snail Mail and Frozen Croissants
Jessica recommends a Loom Journal and Michelle recommends these hot stones for massage, as well as the song "Somebody to Die For" by Sam Smith and, more importantly, "Right Hand Man" by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with the most important lyrics (for this episode) being, "Dying is easy young man, living is harder."
In this final episode focused on physical wellness, we're breaking down the info we got from the pros and are talking about how we make it all work in our regular lives: getting enough exercise no matter what our schedules, eating whole foods and embracing what we can and can't control in our seasons.
Jessica recommends:
No-Bake Healthy Breakfast Cookies
Healthy Banana Bread
Coconut Almond Built Bars
High-Waisted Leggings
Michelle recommends:
Resistance Bands to up your lower-push game!
Eucalyptus Oil - add a few drops to the corner of your shower for a spa-like start to the day!
If you are ready for the next steps in your fitness journey - buckle up! This one's a wild ride! Georgia, a personal trainer in Dallas, Texas, and Michelle's little sister, is here dispelling common misconceptions about health and wellness we've all heard. She's teaching us how we can up our games with progressive overload, eating foods that truly fuel our bodies, and drinking a lot more water. Whether you're just getting started, or are ready to push yourself a bit more, this episode has a ton of useful information that we can use as a roadmap for leading healthier lives, starting right now.
Jessica and Michelle are talking this week to Kiley, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, all about how we can incorporate more movement into our daily lives. She has lots of tips for rethinking our approach to exercise, especially if we have been burned by gym and diet culture or unrealistic expectations we've absorbed from the world around us. Her approach to mindful movement will inspire you to try new things, embrace the season you're in, find a meaningful connection to exercise and just get moving!
Find more of Kiley at Pacific Peaks Fitness!
If you're looking for some YouTube inspiration for your next workout, check out these channels:
Kaisa Fit
San Fran Fitness Rebounder (fun on mini trampolines!)
JTM Fit
And Annie Miller is also a great inspiration. Find her here and here!
We're so excited to be back for another year of Pretty Over Perfect! And we're kicking off a month of talking about healthy habits by tackling reflection on the year behind and seeking direction for the year ahead. Whether you are a natural goal setter or not, we believe everyone can benefit from engaging in some critical thinking about where they're at and where they'd like to be, so we dive into the different ways we approach doing just that.
Jessica has been using Sadie Active to work out and likes it! She also referenced this 3 in 30 Episode all about goal setting.
It's been a whole year of Pretty Over Perfect - thank you so much for being here! This week, we're wrapping up the year by reflecting on the highs, lows, struggles and wins of the year behind, as well as a little sneak peek at some of what you can expect from our podcast next year. We'll be back in January with lots of good things we can't wait to share!
Jessica's Favorite Things of 2021:
Emme Diane Skincare
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Blankety
Saranoni Blanket
Michelle's Favorite Things of 2021:
Anything Colorful (Specifically mentioned some colorful coats: fuchsia and cobalt)
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum with Retinol
Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Premium Pink
We asked you what your favorite holiday bakes, traditions, music and movies are and now we're sharing them! From Sinterklaas to Buena Noche and Bon Bons, opening gifts one-by-one or all in a frenzy, we crowd-sourced this episode of Christmas goodness!
A few things we mentioned you might want to look into:
Cranberry Lime Pie
Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
Gingerbread Kid Cookie Cutters
Snowflake Cookie Cutters
Merry Christmas!
Let’s talk about Christmas… from when and how we’re getting our trees, to traditions we love to keep, meaningful Advent calendars, gift exchanges and more! Plus, what Michelle and Jessica look like in Nutcracker form, how to keep calm this season and the best Christmas music you should be listening to!
If you want to make Advent boxes like we do, here are some links to boxes like the ones we trim as individual tiny presents for the season: cubic and pillow.
Our episode on gift-giving was referenced multiple times, so in case you missed it, you can check it out here!
Jessica recommends Simply on Purpose’s Gifts of Togetherness for clever ideas for the season (scroll down to find the Christmas bundle and enter your email - it’s worth it) and Michelle reads this book with her family for Advent (though not necessarily intended for Advent, the chapters leading up to the birth of Jesus almost perfectly coincide with the number of days of Advent, with a margin for error because the holidays can get busy).
And finally… our favorite Christmas music!
You’re going to have to Google these yourselves, we’re not allowed to link them for some reason.
Leslie Odom, Jr. “Simply Christmas” and “The Christmas Album”
Michael Bible “Christmas”
John Legend “A Legendary Christmas”
Lindsay Sterling “Warmer in the Winter”
David Archuleta “Christmas from the Heart” and “Winter in the Air”
Each of us is made up of light and darkness - and by acknowledging and facing the dark parts of us, we can grow to be more empathetic, mature and dare I say... refined. On today's podcast we explore some of our weaknesses and tendencies that lead to our own frustration if we don't figure out why they continually trip us up. Join us as we discuss our go-to negative emotions, least favorite emotions, how we handle conflict and how we allow ourselves the grace to keep trying and growing through it all.
Michelle mentioned this episode from Inc.com on the three paths to a good life: pleasant experiences, life satisfaction and psychological richness. (Hint: you're going to want to combine all three to get the most out of your time here.)
If you are curious about the Enneagram and learning more about how the best parts of you can also be the worst if not intentionally balanced, there are plenty of resources. Michelle recommended the book, "The Road Back to You," and has also learned a lot from various podcasts, including Jen Hatmaker's series on the Enneagram that begins with this episode.
Relationships shape our lives in many ways - sometimes by encouraging the good in us, and sometimes by showing us the areas we need to grow. We’re talking this week about a variety of relationships and how we’re becoming more refined through and because of them.
Jessica shared this Mirror-Mirror article about relationships and Michelle mentioned the Individualism Index and you can learn more about that here. She also recommended Sebastian Junger’s interview by Oprah where he speaks about individualism vs collectivism and what we can learn about working together. And this song, “Made,” by Spencer Crandall is worth a listen!
We don’t normally do trigger warnings, but we do want to let you know that this episode is a heavy one. We both share our own experiences of loss and the grief that followed and has undoubtedly shaped our lives and world views. There are lots of tears and even some laughter, because that’s what grief is. We don’t get to choose the suffering that is thrust upon us, but we can choose our reactions to it, and our hope is to encourage anyone going through a hard circumstance to allow themselves to be hopeful enough to emerge better not bitter.
Kate Suddes wrote this article that Michelle mentioned for Huff Post about losing her infant son.
However you pronounce "Hygge" is not as important as the feeling it creates. Known as the "art of intimacy", hygge has gained popularity over the years for being an invitation to lean into dark and cold seasons as a place to grow relationships, slow down and carve out space for quiet and reflection. We cannot always live our lives at a frenzied pace, and hygge reminds us to take joy in simple pleasures, be present with ourselves and our loved ones and light all the candles.
The Hygge Manifesto comes from the altogether delightful and inspiring book, "The Little Book of Hygge," by Meik Wiking, which has tons of research into what makes people happy and what it means to embrace hygge.
"Hygge" from Frozen The Broadway Musical is adorable and you should listen to it!
Jessica loves this bread so much she's talked about it twice, so you really should make some!
Having guests over can be exciting… and intimidating. With the holidays fast approaching, many of us will have the opportunity to have people in our homes, and we’re helping you take the guess work out of being a happy host! With ideas about what to put on autopilot, how to simplify and how to let go of the idea of Pinterest-perfection to enjoy your time with friends and families more.
We know that friendships are forged over dishes and relationships are strengthened when we let people into the vulnerable parts of our lives. So we’re encouraging you to plan that pizza night, make brunch for your besties and have your neighbors over just because.
Some favorites mentioned in this episode:
Spinach and Artichoke Dip from La Terra Fina
Super Easy Bread Recipe
A cozy blanket!
Gift-giving can be so fun... and so stressful! The purpose of gift-giving is to celebrate a relationship, but it's easy to get wrapped up (pun intended) in all the perceived anxiety and pressure around tangible expressions of love. In this episode we break it down to its simplest form: desiring to surprise and delight the person you are honoring. We chime in on our favorite gifts to give, our go-to gifts we keep on hand, and the best gifts we've ever received.
Here is the article Michelle referenced about the evolution of Halloween.
Some of our favorite gifts for kids:
Wild Animals of the North by Dieter Braun
A beautiful Encyclopedia of Animals - that's only $10!
Perler Beads are back and just as good as ever!
Biranco Flower Garden
Migargle Wooden Block Set
World Market's Toy Section is amazing!
We also like shopping the Anthropologie sale for kitchen items or candles and decor!
Michelle likes Nordstrom Rack for jewelry and accessories.
And a few random recommendations that didn't even make it into the episode but are worth mentioning if you've read this far:
A beautiful deck of cards.
Capri Blue's Volcano Body Oil!
And a few gorgeous coffee table books: The Color Teil, All in Good Taste, Mother, Elements of Style
This week we are so excited for you to hear our interview of Lu from Life's Frostings. She is chock-full of amazing ideas for decorating for the holidays - from finding inspiration in your natural surroundings to balloon arches and sequin tablecloths. She has an amazing Instagram where you can follow along with all her creative ideas, but she also spills so many of her secrets, tips and tricks for us here and we can't wait for you to listen! Plus, find out some of our best tips for not-so-scary Halloween ideas and inspiration for crafty adventures!
This episode is full of resources that Lu loves to utilize:
Hobby Lobby and Home Goods are great places to look for seasonal decor. They change their offerings often, so keep checking back if you're looking for inspiration.
Floral spray paint takes any flowers or natural elements up a notch!
Afloral.com is a great place for artificial flowers you can use again and again. She recommends the Real Touch Flowers.
Joann's has fabric that is great for tablecloths - from patterned to sequined!
Cher Can Do It is an amazing source for custom balloon arch supplies.
October is a month for celebrating! We’ll be talking all about celebrations of all kinds, beginning with this episode on birthdays! We discuss Jessica’s magical dinner party in the mountains for her 30th, our cleverest ideas for kid’s parties, and our regular little ways of making people feel loved and cherished, no party necessary.
Jessica used Spark Post to create a digital Birthday invitation. Modern technology meets a snail mail vibe - brilliant!
Update: If you downloaded this episode on Monday morning, you may notice a corrupted file after 26 minutes. A new file has been made available now - be sure to click on “Fixed!” We've laid the foundation of good flow in your home and moved on to combining styles and working within constraints, and this week we're talking about all the sparkly details! We interview Makelle Clark to get her take on making her home truly hers with inspired ideas for a unique take on decorating - from precious family heirlooms to TV show sets! Now that we're grown ups and get to play dollhouse in real life, we might as well have some fun with it!
Plus, Michelle reveals the weirdest thing she has on display in her house and Jessica tells us what she puts in every room of her house to help it feel alive.
Take a quiz about your design personality on the Aesthetics of Joy blog if you're wondering where to get started!
Though we all have visions of our "dream homes" dancing in our heads, most of us live within constraints of some kind: location, budget, resources, even the desires and opinions of the people you live with. This week, we're talking about finding ways to love where you live regardless of your unaccomplished wishlist. We discuss combining styles, embracing joy over sophistication and choosing to find the good in the here and now.
Michelle's Portland house was featured on Design Mom's Living with Kids in 2015. You can see her obsession with gallery walls to cover up all the quirkiness of that house.
Ingrid Fetell Lee has great advice for bringing joy into your home in her book Joyful and on her blog, The Aesthetics of Joy.
Minted, 1Canoe2, Fy! and Etsy are all great places to find art for your home at affordable prices!
For the month of September we’ll be chatting about all things home design and we’re starting with the basics: finding a good flow in your home’s arrangement. We’re talking about some principles of Feng Shui and how they teach us to think about a room’s layout so it can be the most inviting to our family and guests. We want to point our lives (and furniture) towards what we want more of: rest, connection, coziness and serenity. Revamp your living space alongside us this month as we get ready to hunker down a bit more in the months ahead.
Michelle mentioned this podcast episode with a Feng Shui consultant that is very helpful!
Family culture is all the rituals, traditions, food, fun and weirdness that makes us us! It's all the inside jokes, nicknames and conversations that shape our families and create lasting bonds. This week we're talking about why we think our family values are important to define, and how we think about translating that into a culture that is foundational for everyone in our homes. Family culture gives us all the roots we need to be grounded, and the wings we need to fly out into the world with grace and confidence.
If you're interested in defining your family's culture, here's a questionnaire to get you started thinking about it! Or, ponder these questions we discussed in the episode:
- What do you enjoy?
- What don't you enjoy?
- What do you prioritize?
- What won't you do?
- What rituals or traditions do you all embrace and anticipate?
- How do you make hard choices?
And if you're at a loss for what to talk about with kids at the dinner table, might we suggest Table Topics for Families.
We’re back with some tips and tricks we use daily in our roles as parents when encouraging good behavior and working through hard things like tantrums, hitting and whining. We want to escape negative feedback loops and ruts with our kids, but all need practical ways to do so. This week we discuss logic, talking through things and our job of creating the scaffolding upon which our children will build their lives, helping them grow from ego-centric toddlers to well-rounded, empathetic adults. None of these things happen overnight, but we do have a special kind of power as parents to set the mood of our homes and to create expectations that encourage growth and learning. Let’s get the positive momentum going with some new ideas in our ongoing purpose as parents.
Play has been shown to increase brain flexibility and we all know it makes us feel better… so why do we struggle to embrace play so much as adults? This week we are talking about adding little moments of playfulness and levity to our lives, to lighten the mood, forge lasting bonds and remind ourselves that not everything has to be so serious all the time. We’re letting go of self-consciousness and preconceived notions about how things will go in order to simply enjoy what is a bit more.
Since you don’t need to buy anything to start playing, we only have one link for you today, and that’s a super fun podcast episode featuring Jennifer Garner on the joys of being an amateur.
You asked, and we answered! We have had several requests for some episodes all about parenting, so here's the first one. This week we're talking about what we feel our roles as parents are, what discipline means (hint: it has less to do with the child than you might think), and who we look to for advice and encouragement. We're revealing some of lowest moments of parenting (and in our true nature, tears are shed), and also our proudest moments that remind us it's all going to be okay. So much of being human is a reminder that anything worth doing is going to be hard sometimes, and raising little ones is no exception. But, we hope to offer some cheerleading to those of you in the thick of it with us.
Resources from this episode:
Table Topics for Families - a deck of cards with questions to spark conversation at the dinner table. Michelle uses this to talk with her kids about silly and serious topics.
Simply on Purpose - an Instagram account by Ralphie Jacobs, who shares lots of insight into positive parenting with tenets such as "look for the good" and "remain the adult."
Simon Synek and Angela Duckworth discuss our desires for control in this podcast episode.
3 in 30 is another podcast we've referenced many times. The host, Rachel Nielson, is quoted by Jessica as saying, "Only I can give my children a happy and healthy mother."
Today's episode is special because we are hosting our very first guest, Jessica's little sister, Whitney! Whitney is here to talk all about how she travels with her young family, including how they dream, plan and budget for the adventures they want to take. We're all telling you how we get through long road-trips, the best time to arrive at a destination, minimalist packing ideas and why we think traveling is a good idea in the first place. After all, it is a lot of effort, so how do we make it worth it?
We have lots of resources to give you today!
Whitney recommends Flights From Home and Scott's Cheap Flights for budget-friendly tickets and inspirational travel ideas.
She also recommends this Active Skin Repair for everything from diaper rash to minor injuries on her hikes.
Her own instagram is pretty inspirational itself and you should check it out here!
Michelle also likes to travel. Check out her Instagram here.
She recommends these handy items for packing like a pro:
Packing Cubes - keep your bags organized
These little jars are the easiest for all your needs like moisturizers, balms and cleansers.
Apparently the exact Beauty Book she recommended from It Cosmetics is no longer sold, but here is a similar idea and another one.
These are the backpacks her kids have used all over the place on their adventures.
And this balm is perfect for lips, rashes and dry hands and she takes it on all her adventures (even though it has a weird name).
Look for more travel tips and recommendations on our Instagram this week: Pretty Over Perfect.
If you’ve ever wondered about the how, when and why behind this podcast, today we’re open books. We’re discussing things like how we got started, being each other’s biggest cheerleaders (and yours, too!), our qualms with social media and even topics we don’t discuss and why. We’re dishing on our MOs here, like how we’ve never improved anything by hating it - only with eyes of love do we see things grow in goodness. Listen in on our phone convo between besties as we flesh out big ideas like how to be vulnerable when we’re afraid of failing, seeing two sides of every coin and not dimming our lights anymore.
This (much) warmer weather has us dreaming of all things festive and fun. Summer is often a bit of a reprieve from normal life, so we're talking bucket lists, personal goals and mentality shifts as we enjoy the sunnier side of life. Plus, we're telling you our favorite sides to bring to a barbecue and some of Jessica's sound weird, but she swears they taste delicious.
Jessica is planning to make lots of popsicles with Kootek Popsicle Molds.
Dolly Parton once said, "Find out who you are. And do it on purpose." To wrap up our month focused on self-care, we are evaluating our core values: the main principles we use to determine how we want to live our lives. Once we've established what these core values are, daily decision making becomes a lot easier, and caring for our whole selves becomes habit. And! We're sharing some of YOUR ideas, thought processes and daily routines that help you live your lives on purpose.
Core Values - a list to get you started on finding yours!
Michelle mentioned a book in the podcast but couldn't remember its title. It is The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.
Tru Fru is delicious!
P.E. with Joe on YouTube is a great way to get whole families moving together! If you want to make it more challenging for yourself, add weights or resistance bands to the moves the kids are doing!
Other fitness apps we've heard you love: Mamele, FitOn, Wilma and 7 Minute Workout.
Email us! If indeed, anyone emails anymore: hello@prettyoverperfect.com
In this bonus episode we’re taking the opportunity to let Jessica tell us all about her recent experience giving birth and her current feelings about the postpartum period. We’re talking about what moms - and babies - really need during this time. Jessica tells us how you can detect what your baby needs by listening to their different cries and Michelle gets a little nerdy about neurochemicals and why most mothers hold their babies in their left arms. We know that surviving the 4th trimester may be instinctual, but that doesn’t make it easy, so we’re here to give you the pep talk you need and this is our mantra: Mothers Are Magic!
This episode is sponsored by Brighter Days Sleep. Emma Collett is a sleep consultant who helps babies sleep so parents can enjoy their days and nights more. Check her out - and give yourself, or a friend - the best gift ever: better sleep!
Dunston Language Theory: Check it out here and here!
Why Parents Carry Babies on the Left Side
Dr. Katie Penry on How to Put Your Phone Away and Why it Matters So Much
Dr. Katie Penry on Infant Sleep
Surviving the 4th Trimester with Postpartum Doula Angel Swon
Our philosophy is you have to get dressed every day, so you might as well have some fun doing it! We're no fashion influencers, but if you're like us, you might think of self-presentation as it's own art form. Or maybe you're wondering what the heck "style" even is anymore. This week we're chatting about ways we like to show up in the world, from daily rituals, to our signature additions of sparkle. We're dishing on the things our mamas taught us and how we wade through endless new trends to find our favorite looks.
References from this episode:
100 Cookies Cookbook
Jennifer Garner on Beauty
Justine Leconte on youtube.com
Skin Tones: Warm or Cool
Sources for products we love:
Jessica's Gold Earrings
Jessica's Favorite Leggings
Nail Stickers
Some of our favorite lip colors:
Mac Lipstick Satin Finish in Snob
Burt's Bees Matte Lip Crayon in Hawaiian Smolder
Maybeline SuperStay Ink Crayon in Seek Adventure or Treat Yourself
Florence by Mills Non-Sticky Gloss in Major Mills
This week we’re chatting about all the ways we care for our whole selves: body, mind and spirit. It’s less about “treat yourself” and more about doing the work of deep self-love and nourishment, checking the voices in our heads, and pursuing passions that make us feel alive. And if you’ve ever wondered what we get insecure about, we’ll tell you in this episode of soul-baring and reflection.
We're wrapping up our food-focused month with our amateur tips for making fun and festive cakes! We're not professionals by any means, but if you've ever wanted to try your hand at baking and decorating a simple cake, we have some of our favorite tips (developed through a lot of trial and error) compiled into this bonus episode for you.
Check us out on Instagram this week to see some of the cakes we've made (just because we think it's fun), and check out the links below for our favorite tools and resources. Happy Cake Day!
Supplies we like:
Cake Boards
Turntable and Spatula Set
Cake Scraper
Russian Piping Tips
Resources we recommend:
Baking with Blondie
Cake by Courtney
Russian Piping Tips How-To
Michelle's Go-To Chocolate Cake Recipe
It's almost time to host friends and family again and we're so excited that we're continuing our discussion of all things edible with this week's focus on our favorite foods for special occasions - from Sunday brunch to birthday celebrations and big gatherings. Sweet, savory and everything in between, hear all our tips like frittatas for a crowd and mouth-watering takes on classics like French toast. Plus, everything you can do withs some frozen puff pastry, why cupcake tins are for more than just cupcakes, and appetizers that make everyone happy. Did we mention we like food? And people? And serving people food? It's the best.
Cinnamon Chip Scones Recipe
Crustless Quiche Recipe
Come on Over by Jeff Mauro
Cravings: Hungry for More by Chrissy Teigen
Our first bonus episode comes to you from a special place in our bellies: the dessert spot. We are both big fans of sugary confections of any kind, and though we are grown-ups and have to consume them only in moderation, we thoroughly enjoy them when we do. We're talking our favorite quick crowd-pleasers like homemade Magic Shell, cookie bars of all kinds, and fanciful showstoppers for special occasions.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Russian Piping Tips and How To Use Them
A Set of Round Cookie Cutters
Two Peas and Their Pod S'mores Pie Recipe
S'mores Custard Cake Recipe
More recipes will be available on our Instagram: @prettyoverperfect
You love it when we talk about food, and we love talking about it. So this month on Pretty Over Perfect we’re all about everything edible. This week we’re talking our favorite go-to meals, what we always keep in our pantries, what we make when we don’t want to cook, and our favorite meals of all time.
Also! We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@prettyoverperfect.com! We’re open to questions, suggestions and fun anecdotes!
We know life isn’t just sunshine and lollipops, but that there are beautiful things happening, even on the worst days we face. This week we're chatting about the layers of goodness we can add to our lives by contemplating everything we do through the lens of gratitude - and it's not even Thanksgiving! We're reframing our mundane experiences in the hopes of finding a little magic and storing up the good for hollowing times ahead.
External resources mentioned in this episode:
Oprah's Super Soul Conversations About Gratitude
Tim Michin’s Commencement Address (Define Yourself by What You Love)
An Experiment in Gratitude (Thank You Letters)
We know motherhood is full - full to the brim with demands, challenges AND joy and fulfillment. This week we’re talking about some of the ways we keep our head above the waves in this overwhelming and wonderful time of life, from showering every day to finding something to do that doesn’t get undone. We’re letting go of unnecessary expectations and coming home to ourselves as the magical mothers we are. Plus, you might just get to hear us cry a little bit.
Resources:
Blessings of a Skinned Knee
Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday
Bringing Up Bébé
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles
In April we're focusing on all the ways - little and big - that we find joy in the everyday, starting out with embracing curiosity and compassion for the people around us and the situations we find ourselves in. This is a subject near and dear to our hearts, so join us this month as we pursue all the good things in the messiness of the reality of our humanness. Plus, find out who Michelle's doppleganger is, and which musician Jessica loves so much she recently found out she is in the top 2% of the fanbase for.
This week we're getting into the nitty gritty of all the things: laundry, meal planning, house cleaning, chores, all of it! We've got tips, tricks and a whole lot of thoughts on how to get it all done - in a way that lets us live the rest of our lives to the fullest. It all has to get done, so let's make it as manageable - and enjoyable - as possible!
Michelle loves this cookbook by Half Baked Harvest.
Jessica recommends The Food Nanny.
And find us on Instagram (@prettyoverperfect), where we'll be showing pictures of the cakes we made for family birthdays, and a whole lot more!
This week we're talking about organizing our lives and our emotions around our biggest goals for ourselves and our families. We're asking big questions like "Who do I want to be in the future (next week, next month, next decade)?" and then, "How do I get there?" And we've got a couple of rock metaphors in there for you, too.
It’s time for spring cleaning and this week we’re getting our houses in order and exploring all the reasons they get so out of hand in the first place. We’re rebranding junk drawers and giving everything a place of its own. Plus, why Michelle never met a shoebox she didn’t like, and how Jessica is hiding all her overflow items in the pantry.
P.S. We had so much to share on this one we let it run long... and couldn’t figure out what to cut. So bear with us as we tackle all the details of our homes - top to bottom!
We're diving deep into ways we make special time for our kids and prioritize our communities, from Tea Tuesdays and backyard soirees to door dashing and bunco groups. Plus, hear all about giant charcuterie boards that fill entire kitchen islands and the mishap where Michelle showed up at her neighbor's family reunion thinking it was a block party.
Michelle's favorite / Aveda Spa knock-off tea can be found here:
Teapigs Licorice and Peppermint Tea
It's almost the best holiday of the year: Valentine's Day! So we're talking about connection with our friends and spouses, plus our take on love languages, Galentine's Brunch, snail mail and the best chocolates you can get from the grocery store.
Click here to view our reflection worksheet: http://bit.ly/POP2Connection
Also, check out our Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/prettyoverperfect/
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Jessica and Michelle introduce you to themselves, the podcast, and a year of improvement - Pretty Over Perfect style!