A Beautiful Mess Podcast

This week we're sharing winter comforts that reliably get us through our least favorite season of the year. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes Winter Comforts: Elsie: Books in bed! Emma: Snow Suit Elsie: Hot water - tea, coffee, apple cider, hot toddies, hot tubs, and bathes Emma: Daydream, redecorate, and organize your house Elsie: Go out with friends. (get out of the house!!) Emma: Game of fire, cozy life Guilty Pleasure Treasure: Elsie: Christopher Nolan movies Emma: Turkish Delights and Vanilla powder from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Book Report: Elsie: The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maas Emma: The Ministry of Time You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week, we're watching the 1995 classic Empire Records. We're also doing a hot take debate about technological advances, and we're bringing back our segment guilty pleasure treasure. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Guilty Pleasure Teasure: Elsie - American Funyuns Emma - American Oreos You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we are discussing core values. We'll share our results from the Values Bridge quiz, as well as our thoughts on how defining core values can improve your life. And in our hot take debate, we're discussing separating art from the artist and rounding it out with whether or not we refrigerate our butter. All the important things that you need to know. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm https://thevaluesbridge.com/ You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

In honor of Emma's 40th birthday, this week we're doing an official midlife crisis episode. Our experiences didn't go exactly like the movies, and we have a lot to discuss. It's going to be fun! Thank you to this week's sponsor: Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Guilty Pleasure Treasure: Emma: Cinnamon dragons Elsie: Watch a period piece while on period You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

We get a lot of questions from people starting on their very first novel. So in this week's episode, we're giving you all the advice that we wish we could time travel back and give ourselves on the day we started our first novels. There's so much writing advice out there, and no matter who you are, it's not all going to work for you. So in this episode, we'll share things to think about and consider as you plot and plan to begin a draft of your very first novel. And the bottom line is, you can do it, and we are here to cheer you on. Thank you to this week's sponsor: You can try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home Tips for new writers: Give yourself a writing assignment Just write your first novel Immerse don't tell Read Get really comfort drafting unpolished Be a joyful student Invest a lot of time in ideation Learn about the business of publishing Your writing routine matters Resources: Show Don't Tell by Sandra Greth Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass Write your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell The Author's Publishing Playbook by Carly Watters https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/ You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're discussing big and small things we want to learn. This episode is a great space for brainstorming. If you've been thinking that you'd like to pick up a new hobby. We're each discussing five big and small things that we'd like to learn in the near future. And we're also doing a hot take debate on the topic of plastic treat bags at children's birthday parties. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Start saving money with Dupe.com today Go to brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide 5 Things we want to learn Emma: Elsie: Book Report: Emma - The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria Elsie - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're talking about Elsie's new newsletter, why newsletters are sometimes even better than blogs, and our advice for how to make your newsletter stand out if you're starting your own. We are also going to be debating a listener hot take that's about homeschooling. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Check out Elsie's newsletter: https://www.elsielarson.com/ Check out Elise's newsletter: https://www.elisejoy.com/ What will the newsletter be: Cozy Curious Photos of crafts and things she's making Stories and essays Life updates Entertaining What the newsletter won't be: Writing DIYs Not written by AI You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing our winter bucket lists (aka how to survive the cold season if you live in a region like we do). We'll also be debating a hot take that personally makes Elsie's blood boil. Let's jump in! Check out https://ramonamuselambert.com Emma Elsie You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

We just wanted to wish you a wonderful Christmas or holiday, and we decided to put together a supercut of all of Nova's meditations, just for fun, because they bring us so much joy. Thank you for being here all year, and we're so excited to keep going into the new year. You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing our goals for the new year and our process for creating tactile vision boards. We'll get a little woo-woo and share our experiences with manifesting and debating a literary hot take. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/abeautifulmess Emma's goals for 2026: Elsie's goals for 2026: elsielarson.com You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're recapping the goals we set for ourselves for 2025, what we accomplished, what we didn't and anything that we're keeping on the list for 2026. We're talking about what makes a good goal and our personal goal setting criteria. We're also sharing our weekly book report and beginning a new segment where we debate listeners hot takes at the end of every episode! The goals we set in our 2025 NY Goal episode: Emma: Get a minivan - No Ambitious food blogging list - Had to pivot in April Pitch cookbook idea - Did pitch but not working on right now Emma's romance (outline and write half) - Yes Elsie: Write every day - No Query my novel - Yes Write second novel - Started it Launch art website and sell art - Did sell art but didn't make a website One renovation to rule them all - Yes Most proud to have accomplished in 2025: Elsie - Got passports and taking first trip Emma - Finishing her novel Unforeseen project you spent a lot of time on in 2025: Elsie - Rewriting her novel Emma -Hugo Accomplishment that wasn't on the list: Elsie - Retraining for a new career Emma - Celebrated 40th Birthday Book Report: Emma - Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Elsie- The Uncool by Cameron Crowe You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get 25% off your first month at Ritual.com/ABM Favorite movie: Elsie - Weapons and The Italian Job (1969) Emma - Wicked: For Good Favorite book: Elsie - The Wedding People and 100 Years of Solitude Emma - Lessons in Chemistry, Funny Story, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Favorite purchases: Elsie - Louise Carmen Journal and her kitchen Emma - Lavender Birkenstock Clogs, pastel lime green sweater, blue sweater, scarfs, and new tattoo Favorite memory: Elsie - Going to italy Emma - Hugo walking and going to Italy Favorite new thing you tried: Elsie - Water color painting Emma - eyeglasses and eating raw fish/sushi Favorite candle: Elsie - Walmart Fresh Cut Frazier Emma - Bath and Body Works Leaves, Burlap Bag, and Thistle Farms You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're doing a Comfort rewatch episode for a holiday movie that we love, The Family Stone from 2005 and we're dedicating this episode to Diane Keaton. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at oneskin.co Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess Cozy interiors: Front room with the Christmas tree Entryway Favorite moments: Emma - Love story between Amy and Brad, when the sister can't get the engagement ring off her finger, and the mom and dad in bed when they show she's had a mastectomy Elsie - Bar scene, opening scene of Diane Keaton looking at Christmas tree, Judy Garland scene, and when she spills the egg mixture on the floor Moment you cringed the hardest: Emma - From the beginning when they are really mean to Meredith Elsie - When he goes for her sister You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we are riffing about our favorite Christmas cookies to make every single year, and we're updating you on our novels. So two of our favorite subjects, cookies and novels! Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at oneskin.co Top 3 Christmas Cookies: Emma - Butter cookies, Snowball cookies, Peanut butter Blossoms, and Puppy chow Elsie - Sugar cookies, Gingerbread cookies, Thumbprint cookies, and Oreo truffles Novel Update: Emma - On third draft - still need to have it proofed one more time Elsie - Rewrote entire novel after getting feedback on it You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're going to share ideas for putting together advents, unique ideas, low cost or free holiday gift ideas, epic personalized gift ideas and neighborly gift ideas. And we'll also share our book report. Thank you to this week's sponsor: 40% off your first month at Ritual.com/ABM Adult Advent Ideas: Books Lipgloss Hair oil Dutch oven Water bottle Small treats T-shirt Kid Advent Ideas: Reuse old toys Cookies Candy Snacks Creative Gift Ideas: Watercolor post cards Fancy set of watercolors Journal Low Cost (or free): Used book that you loved Pictures Epic personalized gift ideas: Leather bound of their fave book CD player with CDs Record player with records Go on Etsy Jewerly Recipe engraved on cutting board Quilts Fancy food Snow outfit (for kids) Art Neighborly gifts: Teachers - Have kids make cards with picture and money inside Jar of baking ingredients Free library Book report Elsie: Piranesi by Suzanna Clark Emma: Apprentice to a Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we are talking all about holiday traditions, things we do for Christmas, things we do for Thanksgiving, anything cozy, interesting or quirky. And at the end of the episode, we'll also have a book report. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/abm For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at oneskin.co Themed Thanksgiving Ideas: Greek Ralph Lauren Polo Bar Indian Dim sum Chinese Mexican Book Report: Elsie - Audition by Katie Kitamura Emma - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Alma Cuervo You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing all the details of our recent trip to Italy, specifically Florence and Venice. If you're planning to travel to one of those places, or if you're in the mood to just travel vicariously through our stories, it's gonna be a big story time episode today. Thank you to this week's sponsor: For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at oneskin.co. Visit GrowTherapy.com/MESS today to get started Florence: What we did : Art museum Combo movie theater/book store Perfume shop What we ate: Cacio e pepe Squash blossom Gnocchi What we bought: Got tiny tattoos Emma - silk scarf, stove-top espresso maker charm necklace Elsie - moth and butterfly platter, Italian translation of The Secret History, 3 toys for Oscar, marbled journal, tiny marbled books for kids Venice: What we did: Canals Peggy Guggenheim collection Gondola tour What we ate: Pizza Pasta Sign up for Elise's newsletter at elisejoy.com Book report Elsie: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico Emma: Secret History by Donna Tartt You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing our holiday seasonal bucket list and how to make your own. If you're like us and you get a little overwhelmed by the long to-do list this time of year, we definitely recommend creating a bucket list to keep the magic in your schedule during the busiest season. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/abm Try LMNT and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess. Elsie: Polar Express Cookie baking marathon Christmas movie marathon Be extra thoughtful and creative with gifts Put favorite books in her free library Emma: Polar Express Sunday night dinner and treats Make Hugo's first hair ornament Holiday Movie Night Take Oscar to paint pottery You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing our stories about how we're changing careers in our thirties and forties. What led us to this point and the logistics of making it happen. If you are in a similar position or dreaming about starting a new career, we hope that this episode will be helpful and encouraging for you. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Visit GrowTherapy.com/MESS today to get started. When approaching your second act: Give yourself every bit of training you would give your kid Invest in your education Form a business plan in phases Interview other people who are doing what you want to do Start small How to find support during this time in life: Find groups of people doing the same thing Talking to a therapist You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing the story of how we became influencers and why we decided to retire from it over the past few years. There are so many pros and cons to this career path that we don't hear talked about often enough. In this episode, we'll share our experiences as well as any advice for anyone considering going into influencing. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: You can try OneSkin with 15% off using code “MESS” at oneskin.co. Pros of influencing: Cons of influencing: Tips for being an influencer: You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.