Size matters, and when it comes to houses, I swim against the trend of bigger is better. Over the last several years, I've come to realize that I love a smaller, more intentional space versus a big sprawl. Today's guest, Shavonda Gardner, of sgstyleblog.com is my sister in the downsizing journey and small space living mindset. In this episode I share my story, some pros and cons of small space living, and interview Shavonda for her fresh, interesting perspective. For the show notes and transcrip...
Mar 14, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Growth and Engagement are both big buzz words in the blogging and social media world right now, but how to they relate to finding fulfillment in your real, everyday life? In this episode, Miranda shares the live presentation she delivered to 100+ women at the Thrive Blogger Conference in Austin, Texas. Sit back, close your eyes, and listen to this upbeat, energetic explanation of how you can reframe growth and engagement to life a bigger, more wonderful life. Show Notes include the slides from t...
Mar 07, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Do you ever feel like things are just too much to handle? That feeling of overwhelm is very familiar to me, and in this episode I explore some idea surrounding overwhelm that have helped me reduce it's appearance in my life--even in very full seasons. Find my 6 tips and additional resources in todays episode! Follow along on instagram @livefreemiranda Find the show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Have you felt the life-changing magic of decluttering? Or does the whole idea feel overwhelming? I believe we all could use some tidying, but are very different about what method might work. So, in this show I share ten ways to declutter your house, including a whole bunch of ideas with how to actually get them out (instead of still in bags and boxes in the back of the car!) Find the show notes, as well as a free 2-page download of notes and a flow chart at livefreecreative.co/podcast Come hang ...
Feb 21, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 27
We are all creative people, though sometimes we question or doubt our ability. Today's show about The Magic Of Creativity shares about how our minds actually grow and expand and change as we exercise our ability to create. I share four ways to explore creativity more fully in your daily life, no matter the medium, as well as some thoughts about the process and the benefits. I believe we would all feel better every day if we made space to create rather than consume! Show Notes at livefreecreative...
Feb 14, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 26
What do you do when you aren't thinking about what to do? That is your baseline system. A passive way of thinking, acting, and being. What happens if you change the system ever so slightly? You change your life. In this episode I dive into several examples of successful systems and how to plan for them. It isn't always easy to create a new habit, but it is always worth it if it leads to positive development. Find the show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow along on Instagram @livefreemi...
Feb 07, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Growing a family is a journey that begins long before conception (or adoption, or surrogacy, or any other of the many ways it can actually happen.) My husband Dave joins me for another episode where we dive deep into our own experience with family planning, cultural and religious implications, and the ways we learned to be flexible along the way. We invite you to listen to our experience and share in our lessons. For show notes visit livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow along with me on Instagram ...
Jan 31, 2019•55 min•Season 1Ep. 24
You know those little, annoying problems or obstacles in life that never seem to go away? In this episode, I share a few from my own life, as well as the process I have begun using to find simple solutions. Rather than spend days or weeks worrying about something, I am getting right to the core and fixing it. Let me share how! Follow along with @livefreemiranda on Instagram Show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Have you ever gotten to 5pm, looked at the clock and wondered what's for dinner? If you are like me, that feeling is draining, and brings out some bad eating habits in an otherwise intentional life (cue the Chick-Fil-A drive thru for the 3rd time this month...) In todays show, I share all of the steps behind the meal planning solution that has worked the best for our family. It is simple, easy, and very minimal. Listen and create a minimal meal plan that works for you and your family to reduce s...
Jan 17, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 22
We are raised in a culture of achievement. Set a goal, meet it, feel a sense of accomplishment and success. What if we are completely missing the boat? What if we can feel the success and accomplishment all along the way towards the life we want to lead? In this episode, I share three myths about achievement, three truths about fulfillment, and some tips for living the life you love right now. Follow along on Instagram @livefreemiranda For show notes visit livefreecreative.co/podcast Learn more ...
Jan 10, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 21
At the beginning of a New Year, I love to take a moment to look back and reflect on the year that just ended. Life goes by so fast that sometimes we don't even realize what happened! In this episode I share a review of 2018, as well as three wins and three areas I recognize a need for improvement. All while inviting you to do the same for your own life. Follow along daily on Instagram @livefreemiranda. Find episode show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Jan 03, 2019•45 min•Season 1Ep. 20
I believe that as we become better people, we become better mothers. This episode shares 4 ideas for how to rediscover, or continue to build up your wholeness as a human even after having children who may seem to demand all of yourself, your time, energy, and sleep. You can pursue things you love AND be a great mom, and in this show I talk about how. Find the show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Keep up with me on Instagram at @livefreemiranda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Dec 27, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Tradition and creativity seem to be at odds, one being doing the same things over and over and the other being doing something new and different. In this talk I gave at Creative Mornings Richmond, I shared how we can bridge tradition and creativity. I also share some fun family traditions that our family enjoy that build love and connection. Find the Aebelskiver recipe link in the show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow along with me on Instagram @livefreemiranda. Learn more about your ...
Dec 20, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Every year between Thanksgiving and the New Year, Dave and I sit down to plan our upcoming year. We add big plans and small goals. Look over the natural milestones of our family, and dream of the live we want to be living. Looking ahead puts us on the path toward where we want to be, even if we don't know the details, yet. This episode shares our process and invites you do do the same! Find me online at livefreecreative.co Follow along on Instagram @livefreemiranda. Learn more about your ad choi...
Dec 13, 2018•40 min•Season 1Ep. 17
When I talk about "adventure", I'm talking about approaching whatever happens in life with the idea that we don't know exactly how it's gonna work out and that's okay. In fact, that's exciting and that can be fun. In this episode I share Five E's of Adventure, and give tips for how to approach whatever is happening in life with an "Adventure Mindset" Find show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow along on instagram with @livefreemiranda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Dec 06, 2018•43 min•Season 1Ep. 16
The holiday season is full. It's full of magic and lights and gifts and treats and activities and entertainment and opportunities. And it's also full of expectations, excess, advertisements, social pressure and sometimes tricky to navigate family situations. Making choices ahead of time about what matters most to us this seasons helps keep the holiday magic...and in this show I'll help you make those choices. Find me online at livefreecreative.co and on instagram @livefreemiranda Learn more abou...
Nov 29, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Gratitude is one of those elements of a happy, intentional, abundant life that really can't be replaced. It is such a key element to all of the things that lead to more joy and to more excitement and to more contentment in my everyday life. In today's episode, I want to share several ideas for encouraging practical gratitude in your everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 14
As we approach the holidays, there are a lot of ideas and expectations surrounding the giving and receiving of GIFTS. In this episode, I share three different ideas about giving gifts that might inspire you to think about the gifts that you give this year in a little different way, allowing even more freedom and joy during the holidays. Follow along on Instagram @livefreemiranda Find my blog livefreecreative.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 13
I love goals and firmly believe in progression in business, health, relationships, and life. Goals are amazing, and yet often I find myself struggling to meet an expectation that I have set for myself and feeling negativity surrounding the missed mark. In this episode, I explore the idea of arbitrary self-imposed deadlines that we create for ourselves that are unnecessary and don't contribute to our progression. When we recognize the difference between healthy goals and simple self-imposed deadl...
Nov 08, 2018•39 min•Season 1Ep. 12
While we all know that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, there are distinct advantages to being able to recognize the good in the things we are experiencing. In today's episode, I share five specific advantages of optimism along with personal examples to illustrate how they have worked in my own life. I hope you'll feel more inspired to find the good in your own life after listening. Follow along with my daily adventures on instagram @livefreemiranda. Find additional inspiration on the blog ...
Nov 01, 2018•39 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Dave and I have chosen to make our relationship a focal point of our life and our development and we've done that through years of kind of ups and downs too. We think that a marriage not only requires work, but also a lot of focused intention, which are different things. We want to share some specific ways that we found to create space for your marriage in your life and even we've got an exceptional bonus in this episode: A very specific list of ways to find a babysitter. Which is an important p...
Oct 25, 2018•50 min•Season 1Ep. 10
When I say "money", what is the first word that comes to your mind? In this episode, I invite you to consider your perspective about money, and share two ways to have enough money in your everyday life. Regardless of your current financial situation, there will be a gem or two for you to discover in this show, and I you will feel more empowered, in control, and excited about your life than before. Show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Find me on instagram! @livefreemiranda Learn more about y...
Oct 18, 2018•40 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Have you ever felt like you need to just check-out for a minute? In this episode I dive into how in those very moments, checking-in rather than checking-out can consciously connect you to yourself and that moment in a way that gives you fresh eyes and renews your energy. I share tips for recognizing what it looks and feels like to check-in and be present, and how some tips to do it more often. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Everything you need to know about organizing your life, you can learn from organizing your junk drawer! In this episode, I dive into the process I use and questions I ask as I am organizing one small area of the house. The steps are small, simple, and specific. If you could use some motivation to get more organized at home, this show is for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 04, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 7
I love eliminating unnecessary decision making from my life. When I started using a capsule wardrobe in 2014, I realize I had already been living one, just without getting rid of the other clothes in my closet. Choosing to formalize a real capsule wardrobe meant that I got to actually make firm decisions about what stays and what goes, and then enjoy the freedom and release of getting rid of the things I didn't wear anyway. In this episode I share all of the ins and outs of these trending "capsu...
Sep 27, 2018•45 min•Season 1Ep. 6
One of my most frequently asked questions is how I get so much stuff done! In this episode, I break down my process for choosing, planning, focusing, and executing projects, ideas, and goals. With so many options available to us, CHOOSING what we want to do is the most important first step to getting stuff done, and I share my favorite pieces of advice about making those choices. I also share an odd job that taught me how to survive alone in the wilderness...so lots of fun in today's show! For d...
Sep 20, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In 2017 our family of five took a year-long break from shopping. It was a minimalism experiment that we called the "More Than Enough Stuff Challenge", because we felt like we actually had more than enough stuff to make it through the year without adding any non-consumable goods to our life. In this episode I share all about the details and logistics of our family challenge, as well as the principals that guided it, and continue to shape our family culture of LESS STUFF, MORE ADVENTURE today! Dur...
Sep 13, 2018•51 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Making friends as an adult can be tricky without the natural socialization of our school years and peers. In this episode Miranda shares seven tried and true pieces of advice to open yourself up to new friendships and MAKE NEW FRIENDS, even if you're not super outgoing. Friends are like a garden. Some great established friendships anchor the landscape, but we still need fresh, bursts of color and new friends can add so much value to our lives. We can't wait to hear about all of your new friends!...
Aug 30, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Do you ever get to a break in the day and have time to accomplish something meaningful, but you are drained of energy? In this episode Miranda shares the circumstances to her thinking of energy as an important renewable resource, and how she manages her energy levels throughout the day for maximum efficiency and fulfillment. Also get a glimpse into some of her varied job history in a segment titled Odd Jobs. (And learn to make the perfect chocolate ganache.) Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Aug 30, 2018•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Miranda thought of starting a podcast over a year ago...and just pulled out the microphone today because NOW is the right time! In this episode, learn three reasons why you can and should get started TODAY on that thing you want to do. Find the motivation you need to just get going on that dream (big or small). In addition, hear some updates about the family's month-long summer road trip in a segment she calls Life Lately. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
