This week we're talking about the books that genuinely shifted how we see the world — not just 5 star reads, but the ones that rewired our thinking and books we still find ourselves talking about years later.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Make sure to go to Biologica.com/MESS and get up to 32% off your first subscription order today! Just use code [MESS] for 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at BranchBasics.com.   Elsie's books: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Station Eleven by Emily Sr. John Mandel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro   Emma's books: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen   Nonfiction Bonus: Elsie: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg Emma: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt   Book Report: Elsie: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Emma: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune   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 entering a world in which there are no iPhones, no internet, no apps, no online shopping, no social media no steaming and no smart tech of any kind. Yes: We're traveling to a land where you get advice from magazines, information from encylopedias and to speak to someone you must pick up the phone and dial numbers.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/abm   Things we miss: magazines (specifically at Borders bookstore) malls in the 1900s AOL chat maps phone books phone calls on land lines listening to an album start to finish on the day it came out scheduling your entire life around your favorite tv show no one being about to reach you Toys R Us (is an amazon childhood) computer lab   GUILTY PLEASURE TREASURE Elsie: Traitors Emma: Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies   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 how to develop your creative palette and style without being derivative. This is a subject that applies across different creative practices from art to writing and even how you dress or decorate your home.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess   Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon   Steps to develop your creative palette: Step one: Develop your taste (Be a fan! Appreciate art!) Step two: MAKE DERIVITIVE WORK (keep doing so until your own style emerges) Step three: Keep developing, keep growing, keep making (to infinity & beyond)   BOOK REPORT State of Wonder by Ann Patchett   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 this week's episode we're diving into how to make vision boards and 5 year plans. If you're in the mood to think about your goals and dreams, you're in the right place. We're also answering some listener questions and engaging in a Hot Take Debate about whether romantic comedies are actually the worst. How to make a vision board: Create different categories for your goals (family, work, fitness, etc) Write in present tense Get pictures from the internet or magazines "We overestimate what we can do in a day, but we underestimate what we can do in a year." Check out Remit Sethi's books: I Will Teach you to be Rich Money for Couples 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 this week's episode we're sharing our Spring Bucket List since it's officially the first week of Spring. It's still pretty cold where we live, so a lot of this is wishful thinking, but it's fun to plan things to look forward to. We're also sharing an extra hot Hot Take Debate about kids and iPads. 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 Wayfair dot com right now to shop all things home. Elsie: Get new hair & general glow up for the joy of it Read all the Brontë novels Start buying fresh flowers & practicing making little arrangements Paint all the time Finish our Mouse Mansion! Emma: Easter baskets Decorate entry way Refresh fairy garden Start walking outside again Wallpaper the kitchen 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 this week's episode we're talking about the highs and lows working from home and how we balance our career dreams with raising young children. We've got several great listener questions to cover and we'll share an extra hot Hot Take Debate. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Go to brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide Just use code [MESS] for 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at BranchBasics.com Our home work spaces: Elsie - Uses her sunroom as her art studio and moves around to different spaces in her house with her laptop Emma - Extra bedroom is office, sometimes works from coffee shop or library Pros and cons of working from home: Pros - Good way to keep life balanced Cons - Lots of distractions How you deal with distractions: Set timer to get tasks done Time boxing Use a reward system Book Reports: Elsie: The Prestige by Christopher Priest Emma: Twisted Love by Anna Huang HOT TAKE DEBATE Anne: Here's my hot take: we don't need any more movies based on books. They're different mediums! Let books be books and movies be movies. I want to see more movies that were written to be MOVIES and tailored to that medium, written to take advantage of all the cool things you can do onscreen. Same for books: I want more authors to take advantage of the cool things you can do in a book that you CAN'T do onscreen. I've read books that felt like they secretly wanted to be screenplays. Play to the strengths of your medium! No more crossing the streams! A Joke & A fact with Nova. 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 mindset shifts that changed our lives. Sometimes, before your life can change, your perspective has to change first. We're also doing a rapid fire hot take debate with a bunch of listener submitted hot takes. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm   Mindset Shifts: What's the best that could happen? Why not me? Cheer for yourself like you would others Practice being an optimist We overestimate what we can get done in a day but we underestimate what we can get done in a year Learn to see patterns, possibilities and opportunities   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 the inevitable experience of failure and how to hone the skill of starting over. Setbacks can be crushing, but they only turn permanent if you quit. In this episode, we're sharing our own vulnerable failure stories and the things that have helped us to get back on our feet.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess   Mindset shifts: Sometimes you have to quit no one owes you anything   BOOK REPORT Emma: Uprooted By Naomi Novik Elsie: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans   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 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.