The intersection of awesome and politics with Pantsuit Politics

March 12, 2019

Is it realistic to return to the days of civil discussion about hot topics? Is it possible to talk politics without damaging our closest relationships? If the thought of tuning into conversations about politics leaves you saying, "hard pass!" then this episode is for you! In this Extra Awesome episode, Meg is joined by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers who host the revolutionary Pantsuit Politics - a bipartisan podcast created around creating nuanced perspectives to discussions about politics and current events.

From how to have difficult conversations with people uninterested in hearing the views of others to how the Enneagram affects how these conversations play out, these women cover it all, answering questions from the Awesomes!

Find Sarah and Beth's book I Think You're Wrong (but I'm listening) at Amazon.

Find Pantsuit Politics on their website, on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

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

Ep. 186 The weirdest things we've bought and loved

March 6, 2019

What secrets are hiding in your shopping history? What do your favorite purchases say about you? Tune in to this episode when Meg is joined by her sister and Sorta Awesome regular Emily Harris as they reveal to the Awesomes the WEIRDEST things they've ever bought! On this list are things they love but also things that sound a little strange, including a marshmallow whip maker, pig ears, and mushroom ketchup. (Say what?!) All of that plus a great Netflix binge and makeup on the go in Awesome of the Week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

European Wax Center: Learn more at axthepinktax.com

Fabletics: Get two leggings for $24 by using the link fabletics.com/AWESOME

Grove: For a FREE $30 Mrs. Myers gift set with your first order at Grove.co/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Dating Around on Netflix
The Little Book of Skin Care, Charlotte Cho
Cushion compact

Nooni marshmallow whip maker
Mushroom ketchup
eyeliner stamp
folding massage table
Catopoly
pig ears, beef knee caps, hemp dog treats
stapless-stapler
electric mouse trap
charcoal toothpaste (use link grove.co/awesome when you sign up for a free gift!)
snail cream

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

You can find Emily on Instagram!

Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on Episode 186 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!

Curiosity, creativity, and conquering artistic fear

March 5, 2019

You know you've curious about doing something a little more creative with your free time. But how do you find the courage to go from curious to creative? Awesome Katie Broussard joins Meg today to share how coloring and painting with her children led her down a very unexpected path to becoming a children's book illustrator! Tune in to hear how Katie found the courage to be a beginner in the world of art, and how dabbling with watercolors eventually led to the book Audacious Ignatius!

Find Audacious Ignatius at Corde Press!

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. 185 Be more awesome with your money!

February 27, 2019

Oh yes, Awesomes! We are finally going there! Today's episode is all about how to be more awesome with your money. Meg sits down with Awesome Kate Nixon Anania, author of the book Twenties in Your Pocket, which is a guide to personal finance for women in the their twenties - and beyond! Kate answers YOUR questions about everything from salary negotiations to saving for small and big term goals to battling money guilt and so much more. You will LOVE Kate's friendly, approachable, relatable advice on money, and you'll be inspired to be an Awesome who knows how to feel great about money!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME to find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase

Lola: Go to mylola.com and enter code awesome40 at checkout for 40% off your subscription

Green Chef: For $50 off your first box of Green Chef, go to GreenChef.us/SORTAAWESOME

Beach Body: Get a free trial membership when you text AWESOME to 303030.

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Chana flour (chickpea flour)

Crispy slow-roasted pork shoulder

Glassdoor.com
Opportunity Outlook Handbook

Kate's book: Twenties in your Pocket

FREE Personal Finance Curriculum for classrooms!

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

You can find Kate on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or visit her website www.twentiesinyourpocket.com

Ep. 184 How to find freedom from our screens

February 22, 2019

Love 'em or hate 'em, the reality is that the many screens that bring technology to us have taken on a big role in our daily lives. Are we suffering from digital addiction? And if so, what do we do? Join Meg and Kelly this week as they fill you in on a movement to take back our time, our presence, and our lives from our screens in ways that are realistic and, well, awesome. PLUS! Stay tune to the end of the episode for a quick story from an Awesome whose story went a little viral and is sure to get you giggling!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Care/of: For 50% off your first month of personalized Care/of vitamins, go to takecareof.com and enter promo code AWESOME50

Fabletics: Get two leggings for $24 by using the link fabletics.com/AWESOME

Grove: For a FREE 60-day VIP membership and a bonus gift when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more, check out Grove at Grove.co/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AotW: Good Housekeeping’s Hot Cocoa Recipe

Rebekah's decadent hot chocolate recipe from Sorta Awesome episode 129

Meg’s AotW: Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown; The Last Curious Man at GQ

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Digital Minimalism: How to Simplify Your Online Life

The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection by Michael Harris

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

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

Let's Go to Trader Joe's!

February 19, 2019

Grab a shopping cart, Awesomes, because Meg and Kelly are taking you on a stroll through Trader Joe's! In this new episode in the Extra Awesome series, you'll hear tried-and-true ideas for fast, delicious, nourishing meals for moms at home, busy women in the workplace, or anyone who needs a simple meal solution at a great price point, plus hear Meg’s not-so-secret favorite resource for getting in on all the good stuff at TJ’s!

TRADER JOE’S CHEAT SHEET

1. Lentil Soup with Ancient Grains

2. Green Dragon Sauce

3. Tamales

4. Whole Milk Cream Top Custard Style Yogurt

5. Creamy Tomato Soup; Marinara Tomatoes; Garlic Cheese Croutons

6. Chili Lime Chicken Burgers; Salmon Burgers; Mahi Mahi Burgers; Jalepeno Artichoke Dip

7. Spinach Salad

8. Prosciutto; Smoked Salmon; French Frommage Slices; Spanish Manchego; Unexpected Cheddar; Truffle Smoked Marcona Almonds

9. Mango Sticky Rice spring rolls; Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean mini sheet cake

10. Gone Berry Crazy

Trader Joe’s Meal Ideas for Busy Moms

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

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

Ep. 183 Ten things we wish we had done sooner

February 15, 2019

Hey Awesome, let's talk about your To-Do List - especially those things you keep putting off and shuffling to the bottom! We're here to tell you that sometimes, doing the things you've been putting off is actually easier than you think it's going to be! Join Meg and Rebekah as they share with you ten things that they've done that turned out so well, they really wish they had done it sooner. Plus, hear from the Awesomes what they have finally got around to doing that made a huge change in their lives! All of that plus a thrilling Netflix binge and simple skin care in Awesome of the Week.

Don’t forget to send your Awesomes Know How ideas, suggestions, and recommendations to team@sortaawesomeshow.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Kopari: Go to kopari.com/awesome and see how you can save $5 off your first order

Shine Text: A personalized pep talk in your pocket. Get 50% off Shine Premium by visiting shinetext.com/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

YOU on Netflix

Cerave SA Renewing Cleanser

Skinfood Royal Honey Eye Cream

Cerave Lightweight Nighttime Cream

Refridgerator drawer
How to fold clothes KonMari style
Shiatsu massager
Meg’s plant from Amazon
Meg on Goodreads

Rebekah's dust buster (not necessarily the most powerful one - labeled as "medium duty")

How to Hide Your Birthday on Facebook

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

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

Discovering the awesome of play therapy

February 12, 2019

Don't let the name fool you, Awesomes! Play therapy is serious stuff - and it is seriously amazing. In this episode in the Extra Awesome series, Meg sits down with her friend, fellow Awesome, and registered play therapist Nancy Rumley Soliz for an information-packed conversation on how play therapy works, which children can benefit from it, and the explanation behind one of the most talked-about trends in therapy right now - Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR. You won't want to miss this incredibly insightful conversation!

SHOW NOTES:
Oklahoma Play Therapy Training Institute
Association for Play Therapy
The Theraplay Institute

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

Ep. 182 Creating a cozy home in winter and beyond

February 8, 2019

Dreary winter days getting you down, Awesome? Hit play right now on this episode to find your inspiration to make home a cozy retreat whether you are shivering through winter or sweating out summer! Meg sits down with the one and only Coziness Consultant Amber Brandt who has turned that cozy, welcoming vibe into her actual J-O-B. Amber makes creating coziness easy for anyone while doing some mythbusting on what hygge really means (spoiler: you don't have to buy one more throw pillow!). And you don't have to put cozy away with your winter candles! Amber tells us how to keep that warm, connected feeling strong all year long!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

ThirdLove: Go to thirdlove.com/AWESOME to find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase

Man Crates: Save 14% when you spend one hundred dollars or more at mancrates.com/AWESOME

Fabletics: Get two leggings for $24 by using the link fabletics.com/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

The Dropout

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

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

You can find Amber on her website, on Facebook, or on Instagram!

Trusting your intuition (even when it seems dumb)

February 6, 2019

Get excited for this Extra Awesome, you guys!! One of our original Team Awesome favorites is back - Laura Tremaine! Tune in to hear Meg and Laura revisit past conversations on Sorta Awesome and how sometimes even when they didn’t know what to do, their intuition was leading them toward the right path all along. Laura shares the mission and message behind her brand new podcast 10 Things To Tell You, and Meg reveals a truth about Sorta Awesome that she has never spoken publicly before!

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

Find Laura at LauraTremaine.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Check out her blog 10 Things To Tell You and find the podcast 10 Things To Tell You wherever you listen to podcasts!

Ep. 181 How to be awesome in any conversation

February 1, 2019

Hey Awesome! There's no doubt that you are out there spreading that glow-y gold awesome to the world around you every day, but what do you do when you find yourself in a tricky conversation? Today, Meg is joined by an Awesome who knows how to navigate any conversation with grace through listening and learning. Colleen Powell is the creator and host of the podcast A Year of Listening - a podcast dedicated to conversations where all sides are shared with civility. Tune in to hear this great conversation that is filled with philosophical inspiration and practical advice!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Green Chef: For $50 off of your first box of Green Chef, go to greenchef.us/sortaawesome

Man Crates: Save 14% when you spend one hundred dollars or more at mancrates.com/AWESOME

Lola: Go to mylola.com and enter code awesome40 at checkout for 40% off your subscription

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:
Brooklyn 99
Milky Chance, Blossom
AllSides.com

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

You can find Colleen on her website, Twitter, and Instagram, and A Year of Listening on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Ep. 180 Behind the Scenes of a Real Life Pivot

January 25, 2019

If there's one thing that Awesomes really know about life, it's that sometimes life asks us to take a great big pivot. Tune in this week to hear Meg sit down with co-host Kelly to discuss the big pivot she has taken that involves public radio, walking stairwells for exercise, and 6 AM wake-up times for this confirmed night owl. All of that plus wintry recipe heaven and spectacular photos with your phone in Awesome of the Week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Madison Reed: Find your perfect shade and get 10% off your first color kit at Madison-Reed.com PROMO CODE: SORTAAWESOME

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Beach Body: Get a free trial membership when you text AWESOME to 303030.

Shine Text: A personalized pep talk in your pocket. Get 50% off Shine Premium by visiting shinetext.com/AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Kelly’s AoTW: Martha Stewart’s Turkey and Bean Chili

Meg’s AotW: Picture Play by Jill Krause

MPR news with Kerri Miller
Sorta Awesome Working Moms on Facebook

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

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

Extra Awesome: Let's declutter our make-up bags!

January 23, 2019

Hey Awesome, decluttering doesn't have to be all fun and no play! Tune in to this Extra Awesome episode to hear Meg and her sister Emily tell you when, how, and why to declutter your makeup bag! They share tips on when to toss that mascara tube, how to clean your brushes, and which lipsticks are their go-to, never-leave-home-without-it picks.

SHOW NOTES:
Ipsy
Sephora Play
Target beauty box
Birchbox
eyeko lash alert mascara
beauty blender
real techniques foundation brush
dr bronners castille soap
fame palette colour pop
make up brush cleaner amazon
benefit porefessional
glamglow volcasmic matte glow moisturizer
nylotica goddess glow
laritzy dew pot
NARS Shrinagar
Makeup forever red
fenty beauty ma’damn lipstick
NARS Anna
Fashionista: Where to return opened beauty products

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

You can find Emily on Instagram!

Ep. 179 Five clever clutter solutions

January 18, 2019

Whether you are decluttering your house from attic to basement or if you just want to keep your kitchen junk drawer tidy, we are here to keep you company and keep you inspired while you work! This week, join Meg and Rebekah as they give you a list of five clever clutter solutions to help guide you through a decluttering project from start to finish with practical advice on how to get started all the way to keeping your home neat and clutter-controlled! All of that plus fascinating reading and the Powersheets revolution in Awesome of the Week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Madison Reed: Find your perfect shade and get 10% off your first color kit at Madison-Reed.com PROMO CODE: SORTAAWESOME

Fabletics: Get two leggings for $24 by using the link fabletics.com/AWESOME

Kopari: Go to kopari.com/awesome and see how you can save $5 off your first order

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Rebekah’s AotW - The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

Meg’s AotW: Lara Casey’s Powersheets Intentional Goal Planner

*Decluttering Inspiration:*

Book - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Book - Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana White (A Slob Comes Clean)

eCourse - The 5 Day Clutter Shakedown by Dana White (A Slob Comes Clean)

Use promo code NEWYEAR19 for $15 off. Expires 1/31/19.

*Time Blocking Inspiration:*

Workbook - Time Blocking 101 Workbook by Donna Shenk (Hey Donna)

*Selling Inspiration:*

Blog Post - 10 Tips That Made My First Yard Sale a Success by Rebekah Hoffer

*Toy Rotation Inspiration:*

Blog Post - How to Cut Down on Clutter with Toy Rotation by Rebekah Hoffer

Blog Post - Is Toy Rotation Worth The Effort? by Rebekah Hoffer

*More Decluttering Inspiration:*

Blog Post - My "Twenty Meals" Plan & How It Work For Me For 20 Years by Bonni Greiner (Mom by Example)

Workbook - Monthly Meal Planning Workbook by Donna Shenk (Hey Donna)

*Examples of Rebekah Being "Social" with her Decluttering Blog Posts:*

Before & After Photos: Amazing Stairway Cleanup https://simplyrebekah.com/2016/09/09/stairway-cleanup-before-and-after-photos/

Before & After Photos: Amazing Basement Cleanup

Before & After Photos: My Bedroom Mess

Before & After Photos: My Major Closet Cleanup

Before & After Photos: My Messy Freezer

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

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

Extra Awesome: What's hot in planners for 2019

January 15, 2019

Get our your favorite gel ink pens and fire up that washi tape, Awesomes! In this episode of Extra Awesome, Meg is joined by the Awesome community's own Alisha Johnson - creator of the Sorta Awesome Planner Peeps Facebook group and all-around guru for all things planners and more! In this bonus episode, Alisha fills us in on what's hot in planners for the upcoming year (hint: it's all about customization!) as well as which planners people love most. All of that plus the most inspiring social media accounts to follow to help you find "planner peace."

SHOW NOTES:
Happy Planner
Scribbles That Matter - bullet planner
Erin Condren
Plum Paper
Agendio
Inkwell Press

@stephanie_fleming
@MomRunCraft
@Magicalplans
@mindful_hookup
@kellofaplan
(Heather Kell on YouTube)
@athomewithquita
(At Home With Quita on YouTube)

A few hashtags I like to follow:
#thehappyplanner
#lists
#listersgottalist
#supermomplanner
#afterthepen
#dashboardlayout
#happyplannermini

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

Ep. 178 The truth about personality, organization, and productivity

January 11, 2019

Have you ever wondered why some people are naturally gifted with the power of organization? And why do some people struggle so much with procrastination when they want to be productive? The truth is our personality type holds the key to understanding how and why we organize our lives the way we do! Join Meg and her sister Emily this week for an in-depth discussion on how your Myers Briggs personality type can bring freedom and understanding to your organizational systems! All of that plus travel mug happiness and Marie Kondo comes to Netflix in Awesome of the Week!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Madison Reed: Find your perfect shade and get 10% off your first color kit at Madison-Reed.com PROMO CODE: AWESOME

Fabletics: Get two leggings for $24 by using the link fabletics.com/AWESOME

ThirdLove: Get your perfect-ftting bra at ThirdLove and get 15% off your first order at thirdlove.com/awesome

LinkedIn: Go to linkedin.com/AWESOME and get a $50 credit toward your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Simple Modern travel tumbler
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Why Many Introverts are Extremely Good Planners at Introvert, Dear

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

You can find Emily on Instagram!

Extra Awesome: Let's Talk Curly Girl!

January 9, 2019

Awesomes, the Curly Girl Method is having a moment! Tune in to this edition of Extra Awesome to hear Meg and Rebekah talk all about the awesome of having curly hair including their history with their hair, what products, techniques, and haircuts they are loving right now, and where to find more information about all things Curly!

SHOW NOTES:
Find a Deva Cut salon
Deva products
Curly Hair subreddit (don’t be scared! Meg promises you it’s totally supportive and not at all aggressive)
Naturally Curly blog
LUS Love Ur Curls - Meg uses the Wavy line
LA LOOKS extreme sport gel - must be the blue gel!
As I Am products - Meg likes the coconut co-wash and the leave-in conditioner

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

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

Ep. 177 Breakthrough to the true you in 2019!

January 4, 2019

Awesomes, what if the secret to tapping into your truest, most authentic self could be found in one simple daily practice? Join Meg and author Michelle DeRusha to kick off 2019 with a conversation about exploring our inward lives and discovering the person we were meant to be! All of that plus two cozy comforts to get you through the winter months in Awesome of the Week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Madison Reed: Find your perfect shade and get 10% off your first color kit at Madison-Reed.com PROMO CODE: AWESOME

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:
Fleece-lined leggings
Belif The True Cream

True You: Letting Go Of Your False Self To Uncover The Person God Created, Michelle DeRusha

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

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

Ep. 176 All the Awesome of 2018!

December 28, 2018

The year of the Awesome is drawing to a close, and we've gathered together to toast the best of 2018! Tune in to our annual year-end tradition of choosing our favorites of the year in reading, listening, and watching, plus hear Meg, Kelly, and Rebekah pick their awesome of the year. Find us on social media so we can hear YOUR Awesome of the Year, too! Happy New Year, Awesomes!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Grove: For a FREE 60-day VIP membership and a bonus gift when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more, check out Grove at Grove.co/AWESOME

Madison Reed: Madison Reed makes hair color easy, affordable, and awesome! Get 10% off and free shipping on your first order at madison-reed.com and use code SORTAAWESOME

ShoeDazzle: Go to shoedazzle.com/awesome and get 50% off your first order when you sign up as a VIP

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Garnet Hill Favorite Maxi Knit Skirt

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup (Kelly substitutes 1 can of black beans and 1 can of pinto beans instead of 2 cans of black beans)

What Alice Forgot
The Resident
Younger
Netflix’s The Innocent Man
Slow Burn podcast
Serial Season 3
The Dream

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

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

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

Ep. 175 Let's invite Enneagram to the Holidays!

December 21, 2018

If there's one thing the Awesomes have been VERY into in 2018, it's the Enneagram! And there's no better time to think about how this personality system can help us understand ourselves and others better than at the holidays. This week, join Meg and Enneagram coach and guru Beth McCord of YourEnneagramCoach.com as they invite you to understand what each Enneagram type brings to the holiday season, what challenges each type faces, and the essential message that each of us need to hear now and for the new year. And stay tuned to the end to discover how Enneagram coaching can get your new year started off right! All of that plus self-reflection and even some surprising new denim in Awesome of the Week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Grove: For a FREE 60-day VIP membership and a bonus gift when you sign up and place an order of $20 or more, check out Grove at Grove.co/AWESOME

Madison Reed: Madison Reed makes hair color easy, affordable, and awesome! Get 10% off and free shipping on your first order at madison-reed.com and use code SORTAAWESOME

Kneipp: Must-have skin and body care for health and well-being! Get 15% off of your first order at kneipp.com and use promo code AWESOME

Fabletics: Go to fabletics.com/awesome to get two incredibly awesome leggings for $24 ($99 value!) and stock up on athletic wear you will love!

Thank you to all of our Sorta Awesome sponsors!

SHOW NOTES:

Isabel Maternity jeans at Target

Find out more about Beth’s Enneagram coaching courses

You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
You can find Beth at YourEnneagramCoach.com and on Instagram!

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