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 wan...
May 02, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 54
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 abou...
Apr 25, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 53
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 ho...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 52
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 sh...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 51
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, sustai...
Apr 04, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 50
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”....
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 49
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...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 48
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!
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 19 min
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 ...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 47
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 S...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 46
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.
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 45
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 succes...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 44
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 , "Ri...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 43
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! Eucalypt...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 42
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 ...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 41
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...
Jan 17, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 40
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...
Jan 10, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 39
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: ...
Dec 13, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 38
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!...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 37
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 refere...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 36
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 ...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 35
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 indivi...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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 b...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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 c...
Nov 01, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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 ...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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 refere...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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...
Oct 11, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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!...
Oct 04, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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 famil...
Sep 27, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 K...
Sep 20, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 26
