Ep. 118 The critical thing you aren't getting

October 20, 2017

You know you need it, but how much are you getting? Probably not enough! Join Meg and Kelly as they explore how not getting enough sleep is taking more of a toll than you might know. They also share TONS of great tips for getting more and better sleep! All of that plus Awesome of the Week!

To hear the original conversation that sparked this show, become a monthly supporter of Sorta Awesome! To find out how to join our team at Patreon, click on our Support page.

Kelly's Salted Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

MIZON Black Snail All-in-one cream
MISSHA Super Aqua Cell Renewal Cream
MIZON Snail repair ampoule

Show Notes:

1. Learning How to Sleep Again, Lisa @ 100 Days of Real Food

2. Could some ADHD be a type of sleep disorder?

3. 8 Reasons You Don’t Feel Well-Rested and What You Can Do About It

Natural Calm magnesium powder
Magnesium spray
Megan's favorite booklight

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Ep. 117 Starbucks, spotlights, and what about those college degrees?

October 13, 2017

Long before Sorta Awesome debuted in your earbuds, we had a long list of loved (and maybe a few hated) jobs filling our time and our bank accounts. Join Meg and Rebekah as they dip back into their job histories to tell stories and share lessons learned, all while contemplating just what exactly they are doing with those college degrees. All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES

A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness

This American Life episode #360 "Switched at Birth

Sight & Sound Theatres

Behind the Scenes at Sight & Sound: The Lighting Department

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Rebekah's AotW: This American Life episode #360 "Switched at Birth

Sight & Sound Theatres

Behind the Scenes at Sight & Sound: The Lighting Department

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Ep. 116 Stop buying cheap clothes!

October 6, 2017

Fast fashion can be lots of fun, but there are some very awesome reasons why we should stop buying those $5 t-shirts. Join Meg and Laura as they share the very different reasons that they've arrived at the same opinion - cheap clothes aren't good for you! All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES:

Braving the Wilderness, Brene Brown
The Michalaks on YouTube (check out their About video and also try The Story Behind Our Matching Tattoos)

Sorta Awesome Episode 92Ten that are too awesome to miss!
The True Cost
Adam Ruins Everything, Episode 22 Why Fast Fashion Fails Us

Laura's guide of what to look for in buying apparel:
1) Fabric
2) Seams and buttons
3) Lining

Patagonia
Everlane
Krochet Kids
Tapered Collection
Eshakti
Rabble and Rouse
Slow Factory

Kendi Everyday

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Extra Awesome: Osheta Moore & Shalom Sistas

October 3, 2017

We are thrilled to welcome Osheta Moore back to Sorta Awesome! You loved the wisdom and insight she shared in her first appearance on Sorta Awesome back in Episode 48, and now she is back to talk to Meg about imaginative, creative, and awesome ways to create peace and wholeness in the community around you.

Osheta's book Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World releases today! You can find more of Osheta on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and look for her Shalom Sistas podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

Ep. 115 Ten awesome things for FALL 2017

September 29, 2017

It is now officially autumn in our part of the world, and we are officially excited to bring you another best of fall episode! Tune in to hear Meg and Kelly talk about the ten things they are counting on to be SO awesome for this fall season! All of that plus an inspiring book and playing dress-up with jewelry in Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES:

Huffington Post: Don't apologize for your obsession with fall. It's science.

It Won’t Be Easy: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to Teaching by Tom Rademacher

Rocksbox

Nut-free protein balls

Woodfire Candles

Dearfoams Women's Memory Foam Sweater Knit Indoor/Outdoor Bootie Slippers

Maple-Glazed Butternut Squash with Clementine and Pancetta

Vintage washed flannel shirts

Cinnamon Roll Caramel Popcorn

Meg's floral cardigan

Meg's velvet purse

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Rita

Maybelline Super Stay Matte lipstick in Pioneer

How to make body butter from A Delightful Home's Body Scrub Bible:

Makes approximately 4 ounces of body butter.

Ingredients
3 ounces cocoa butter
1.5 ounces jojoba oil
5 drops of essential oil (optional)
You will also need:
Double-boiler
Mixing bowl
Hand mixer
Container for body butter

Method
1. Weigh cocoa butter then place in the top of a double-boiler. If you are using large
chunks of cocoa butter, cut into smaller pieces to make the melting process a little
quicker. Heat over medium heat until the cocoa butter has melted.

2. Once cocoa butter has melted, remove from heat. Add jojoba oil.

3. Let cool briefly then pour oil mixture into a bowl. Leave to cool.
The cooling process can take a number of hours. You can speed things along by
placing bowl in the fridge or freezer for a little while, or sit bowl in an ice bath.
Once the oils have cooled and begun to turn opaque, it’s time to whip.

4. Using a hand mixer, whip the body butter. Whip for two minutes and let sit for another
five minutes.
Whip for another two minutes, then let sit for another five. Continue this process until
the body butter is whipped to your liking.
Once body butter is thick and creamy, scoop into jar.

A Delightful Home: Body Butter Basics e-course (use code AWESOME for 50% off at check-out!)

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Ep. 114 Smash the lies, discover the awesome!

September 22, 2017

It happens to the best of us from time to time - we suddenly realize we've been believing something entirely untrue about ourselves (or about life in general!). This week, join Meg and Rebekah as they talk through some of the lies they've been believing and how they discovered the truth on the other side of that realization. PLUS, hear from therapist Annie Wright as she gives specific, actionable advice on how to counteract negative thought patterns and start to build healthy thoughts instead! All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES:

Roxana's Candles
(Purchase Roxana's Candles using a special Promo Code. Use the discount code awesome10 for !0% off. This code is valid once per customer, and will take 10% off every order with no minimum purchase. Roxana's Candles offers free shipping within the U.S.)

Anne Bogel's Reading People

Annie Wright: Neuroplasticity and the Critical Practice of Speaking More Kindly To Yourself

Find Annie at her blog AnnieWright.com (along with many free resources!) and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Ep. 113 We don't know what we're doing (WAHM woes)

September 15, 2017

Awesomes, this is an episode quite unlike any other we've ever created. We're bringing you a peek behind the curtain of podcast production, and you'll quickly agree with us that honestly, we have no idea what we are doing. Join Meg and Laura in this completely un-produced, real life, real talk conversation about how difficult it has been for them to figure out how to structure their days and get stuff done as work at home moms. No matter your own vocation, work situation, or calling, you might hear a tidbit or two to inspire how you spend your days, and you'll most certainly be able to give us some advice on how to get our acts together! All of that plus Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES:

Find out how to become a Sorta Awesome listener-supporter!

Sorta Awesome is now on Spotify

Blue Grass Covers on Spotify

Gap's Live-in bra

Gap's Live-in unlined crossback bra

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Smartest Person in the Room Podcast

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Ep. 112 Stop outsourcing your safety with Tony Blauer

September 8, 2017

“You are the First Responder in your fight.” This is at the heart of self-defense guru Tony Blauer's mission and message, and what he and his wife Jesse share in this episode of Sorta Awesome just might save your life. Join Megan and her husband Kyle as they share about a recent incident in their home that woke them up to the pivotal importance of understanding what self-defense really means.

SHOW NOTES:

Blauer Tactical Systems

VIDEOS:

Why you never see martial arts in life & death situations (language warning)

Tony's SPEAR system

Tony's ATM video

Tony's 3 Ds explained (blog post)

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Ep. 111 Our favorite meals

September 1, 2017

Hungry? You will be after this delectable episode featuring Meg and Kelly's all-time favorite meals! You'll hear them share their top go-to family faves as well as crowd-pleasers, comfort foods, Trader Joe's best picks, and decadent splurges. All of that plus Awesome of the Week!

SHOW NOTES:

Hardy Hibiscus
The Liturgists - Names

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Tacos

Cajun turkey burgers
Chicken Stir-Fry wraps
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
Greek Chicken Kebabs
1 lb ground chicken
1 onion, shredded (a food processor works great; you want the onion almost pulpy)
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1. In a large bowl, mix all kebab ingredients. Shape into eight 4-inch-long portions on a foiled lined baking sheet.
2. Heat broiler. Broil chicken until lightly seared on both sides, flipping once. If desired, insert skewers at the end for eating fun.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Meatloaf
Simple Meatballs
African Pilaf
Roasted pork loin

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Lasagna Soup (Ep. 43)

Wild Rice Soup (Ep. 83)

Pioneer Woman’s lasagna

Ina Garten’s chicken pot pie

Momadvice Brunch-themed birthday (French Toast Souffle and Overnight Breakfast Casserole)
Sausage Quiche Squares
Pioneer Woman Perfect Pot Roast
Cheese enchiladas

Chicken Salsa Chili
All-purpose marinade: equal parts olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce

Trader Joe’s Gyro Slices

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Party Sized Mini Meatballs

Thai quinoa salad

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Extra Awesome: Book of the Month Club September Preview

August 31, 2017

Back by popular demand! Book of the Month Club just released their September selections, and Meg and Laura are here to talk you through your choices!

Learn more about signing up for Book of the Month Club by going to sortaawesomeshow.com/bookofthemonth

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Extra Awesome: Erin Odom & More Than Just Making It

August 29, 2017

Extra Awesome is back, and we are excited to feature Erin Odom, an author and popular blogger who also happens to have been the very FIRST guest on Sorta Awesome! Erin is the author of the new book More Than Just Making It and the founder of The Humbled Homemaker, a blog dedicated to grace-filled living designed to equip and encourage mothers in the trenches. Her Southern charm and wealth of inspirational, practical content has drawn an audience of millions over the years. Erin and her husband, Will, live in the South where they raise their four children.

Find Erin on her blog The Humbled Homemaker.

Find more information on ordering her book at MoreThanJustMakingIt.com

Find her free course at EatingWellOnABudget.com

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Ep. 110 Sorry/not sorry! (A group show)

August 25, 2017

Hey Awesomes? Maybe don't listen to this one with the littlest ears around because we go to some places in this group show that we've never gone before on Sorta Awesome - not publicly anyway. What else would you expect from a group show? Episode 110 features Meg, Kelly, Laura, and Rebekah sharing a long list of sorry/not sorry confessions, and you'll hear everything from anatomical correctness to environmental destruction and TONS of surprising revelations in between. All of that plus DOUBLE the awesome in Awesome of the Week!

To find out more about Sorta Awesome sponsor Sun Basket, go to sunbasket.com/sorta
To find out more about Sorta Awesome sponsor Bark Box, go to barkbox.com/AWESOME

SHOW NOTES:

The Brady Bunch on Hulu
Wooden Block Puzzle app
DryBar comedy (Kellen Erskine; Collin Moulton)
Kyle and Meg's Spotify playlist: In This House
Amazon Echo

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

The Handmaid's Tale: Discussion and dialogue

August 22, 2017

Extra Awesome returns this week with an episode of conversation between Megan and Laura about the recent Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale. Tune in to hear them talk spoiler-free in the first part of the episode about why everyone's talking about this adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel. Then in the second part of the episode, you'll hear them talk about the most powerful moments and the most interesting character turns. Tell us what you think of The Handmaid's Tale!

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Ep. 109 Experiments with habits, happiness, and cold showers

August 18, 2017

Is it possible that your daily habits could make you happier, healthier, and more successful? Meg and Rebekah checked out a list of 50 habits that the world's most successful people swear by, and they set out to find out what would happen in their own lives if they tried out a few of these ideas themselves. You'll hear them report back on everything from mindful prayer to taking cold showers. All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

Episode 109 of Sorta Awesome is brought to you by Sun Basket - healthy cooking made easy! To find out more about organic and non-GMO ingredients and meals delivered fresh to your door AND get 50% off your first order, go to sunbasket.com/sorta

Episode 109 of Sorta Awesome is brought to you by That's It bars. That's It bars are 100% real fruit and THAT'S IT. Perfect for delicious, healthy snacking on the go. Go to thatsitfruit.com and use code AWESOME at check-out for 10% off your order!

SHOW NOTES:

Thrive Global: 50 Ways Happier, Healthier, and More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms

Bentgo leak-proof lunchbox
Bentology insulated lunch bag

Become a supporter of Sorta Awesome by signing up for our Patreon for access to bonus content!

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Rebekah on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Ep. 108 Best books from our summer reading stack!

August 10, 2017

The happiest way to spend the summer days is with a stack of books by your side. Megan and Laura indulged in that summer tradition, and they are here to report on the best of their summer reading! It's like book report day in school, only WAY more awesome!

Don't forget to go to wondery.com/survey to tell us more about YOU!

Episode 108 is brought to you by LOLA: 100% organic cotton feminine products delivered right to your door every month. Go to mylola.com and use code awesome60 at check-out for 60% off of your first subscription!

SHOW NOTES:

The Turnaround: Jerry Springer
The Nod: Good for the Blacks
Annotated: The Most Glamorous Librarian Ever

IT, Stephen King
The Crossover, Kwame Alexander
Anything is Possible, Elizabeth Strout
The Upside of Unrequited, Becky Albertalli
This is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid

Deep Work, Cal Newport
Essentialism, Greg McKeown
The Fact of a Body, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
At Home in the World, Tsh Oxenreider

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Extra Awesome: Chrystal Evans Hurst & She's Still There

August 8, 2017

In the newest episode in the Extra Awesome series, Megan welcomes author and speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst to the show!

Chrystal Evans Hurst co-authored the bestselling Kingdom Woman with her father, author and pastor Tony Evans. And her newest book, She’s Still There, releases on August 8th! She reaches a wide audience of women speaking at conferences, sharing on her blog and podcast, “Chrystal’s Chronicles,” writing for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and teaching and leading women in her home church. Chrystal also cultivates hearts and commands chaos as the chief operating officer of the Hurst household. She and her husband Jessie adore their three very hungry boys, two adult girls, one son-in-love and their one gorgeous granddaughter. You can find her sharing the journey at ChrystalEvansHurst.com

Ep. 107 Keep Awesomes Weird!

August 4, 2017

Fire off the confetti cannons - Sorta Awesome is back! And this week, Megan and Kelly are celebrating all the wonderfully wild ways we are WEIRD! They'll tell you five great reasons to enjoy all of your weirdness (spoiler: it just might change the world!), then they'll spill the strange little beans on their own weirdness while sharing some of the wackiest weirds from the Awesome community. All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

Episode 107 of Sorta Awesome is brought to you by That's It bars. That's It bars are 100% fruit and THAT'S IT - no preservatives, no added sugar, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and raw. Perfect for delicious, healthy snacking at home or on the go! Find That's It bars at Whole Foods, Starbucks, CVS pharmacies, or by going to thatsitfruit.com and using code "awesome" for 10% off of your order!

SHOW NOTES:
Well Plated: Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Instagram accounts:
@angelakinsey
@heartandhome
@jamiebgolden

Find Kelly on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don’t forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook , @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EPISODE 107 OF SORTA AWESOME

EXTRA AWESOME Game of Thrones: Big Feelings

July 11, 2017

In this brand new Extra Awesome episode, Megan and Laura take a break from Sorta Awesome's summer break to discuss allllll of their big feelings about HBO's Game of Thrones! Just in time for the Game of Thrones season 7 premiere, you can tune in to hear them talk series background, story arcs, best and worst characters, and why even a (very) highly sensitive person like Megan lists this as one of her favorite television series ever!

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EXTRA AWESOME: GAME OF THRONES

Ep. 106 Questions only your sister would ask

June 22, 2017

What's it like to get naked at a spa? What's the worst thing about middle school kids? And DO YOU HAVE ANY LIFE REGRETS?! These are all questions that only a sister could get away with asking, and this week, Megan welcomes her sister Emily back to Sorta Awesome for a conversation filled with answers to question that might make you raise an eyebrow. Tune in to hear them dish on professional lives, weird worries, and the one thing their parents don't know about them. All of that, plus Awesome of the Week!

Episode 106 is brought to you by BarkBox! BarkBox is a delivery of 4 to 6 natural treats and super fun toys chosen around each month’s surprise theme. For a FREE EXTRA PREMIUM TOY added to your BarkBox every month, visit barkbox.com/awesome, and when you subscribe to a 6 or 12 month plan, select “Yes, Please!” when asked “Have a playful pup?” Here's to happy doggies everywhere with BarkBox!

Episode 106 is brought to you by Talkspace - the online therapy company. Is it time for you to take action on taking care of yourself? Explore the options offered by Talkspace. Get $30 off of your first month by going to Talkspace.com/awesome and use promo code awesome.

SHOW NOTES:

Laura in the Kitchen
@emily34331 on Instagram

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EPISODE 106 OF SORTA AWESOME

Ep. 105 Hot summer trends 2017

June 16, 2017

If you're feeling busy and out of the loop of what's new and interesting in culture right now, this week's episode is just for you! Megan and Laura celebrate Megan's 40th birthday by indulging in one of her favorite subjects - all that's good to know in cultural trends! They'll give you the scoop on what to wear, what to watch, what to listen to, and what to read for summer 2017. All of that plus Awesome of the Week!

Episode 105 is sponsored by StoryWorth: the easiest way to share your story. The gift of Storyworth is a perfect last-minute gift for the Dad in your life! A Storyworth subscription provides a year's worth of story prompts and culminates in a beautiful keepsake book for families to enjoy for years to come. For $20 off of your Storyworth subscription, go to storyworth.com/awesome to get started!

SHOW NOTES:

40 Things To Do When You Turn 40, Ronnie Sellers, editor
Steve Madden SOFTEY slides
foot peel
Smartest Person in the Room: Special Edition, Books and Reading 2017
Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Arundhati Roy
Hunger, Roxanne Gay

You can find Megan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EPISODE 105 OF SORTA AWESOME

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