Practically Happy

Traditions bring identity, enthusiasm, and anticipation to life! Sometimes we forget that we are in charge of choosing what traditions we would like to live, and which don't serve us. In this episode Miranda shares the traditions that her family has chosen to celebrate for every major (and some minor) holidays of the year, in an effort to give you some inspiration to create your own exciting tradi...

What happens when you pause to reflect on how well your actions align with your inner values? You begin to access your greatest personal power.  In this special crossover episode with powerhouse life coach, speaker, author and podcaster Natalie Norton, learn from personal experiences how to begin taking steps towards living your most whole and true life. Print the PDF exercise that accompanies thi...

What if time was flexible? What if the minutes in the hours changed depending on the seasons of our life? In todays episode I share a lesson in history that has dramatically shifted my perspective and allowed me to find peace and contentment in my everyday life, right now.  Find the show notes at livefreecreative.co/podcast Follow along on instagram @livefreemiranda Learn more about your ad choice...

Have you always wanted to travel more, but have a hard time figuring out the finances? In this episode, I share 7 tips for making the most of your money when you travel, whether near or far. Getting out to see the world and connect to humanity has always been one of my priorities, regardless of the stage of life and finances. These are some ways I have been able to always make a trip work. Find th...

I've been attending conferences and in-person events for years. They can be overwhelming and sometimes intimidating and stressful if I'm not mentally prepared. These four tips that help me before, during, and after the event to make the most of each day, weekend, or week away.  These tips will also be helpful for attending parties, showers, or even vacations. If you attend any type of event, in pe...

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 liv...

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 refr...

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/...

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, a...

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...

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...

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...

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 livefre...

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, a...

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.   ...

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 @livefreemi...

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/pod...

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 l...

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 onl...

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...

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 t...

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....

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 livef...

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 o...

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 a...