Pretty Over Perfect

We've all be there, dreaming of summer days in June, and over it by July. Summer is a change of pace that can be welcome, but tends towards irritating without some intention. Let's create a simple plan of action to have the summer you really want with your family by creating rhythms instead of schedules, picking passion projects, being prepared for meals and snacktimes, building traditio...

Marcela Zivkovic is back to talk about marriage during the young years of parenting - when babies are needy and time doesn't feel like it belongs to you. She brings her experience with infertility and then young parenthood to talk about ways we can shift the energy to love each other well, be each other's biggest supporters and build relationships that thrive and will bring us joy for ye...

Marcela Zivkovic is here with us today to talk about parenting by example and expectations. Marcela is a former teacher, current raciolinguistics researcher and mom of two girls in elementary school. We’re talking about how to set clear intentions for our families and then create the systems that help us meet them so we can have children that thrive, parents that thrive, and families we love being...

Mother’s Day is coming up and these five things I learned from my mom have been on my mind lately.  Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!  @prettyoverperfect

Asking for help can be scary, especially for those of us who have been convinced we need to do everything ourselves. Today, we're breaking down how to shift our mindsets and ask for and offer help in order to build the communities we desperately want to be a part of.  We also discuss how the hormones of child-bearing and motherhood are meant to help us bond to our babies and create wonderful...

Have you ever felt like you've lost your sparkle? Moms know that motherhood is filled with often repetitive, boring and demanding tasks that make us feel like we've lost our sparkle, our shine, the things that make us special. But I believe that if we lean into creativity, we can figure out what that sparkle is again. We can find ourselves again in what we're doing right now.  Mothe...

Sarah Lopez-Madrigal started offering academic help to kids in her neighborhood during Covid and quickly realized they were suffering from loneliness, anxiety and depression. She got to work creating a third space kids can get together outside, off-screens and in community with each other. WeBelong PDX offers comprehensive wellness-programs to kids and families and is all about helping kids thrive...

Perfectionism has some merits - and some downsides. Sitting with both enables me to move forward with freedom and hope.  Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!  @prettyoverperfect

A brief contemplation of legacy and purpose, and how I'm figuring out what mine is in this season I'm in right now.  Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!  @prettyoverperfect

Editing is a powerful tool we use to figure out what works, what doesn’t and what we should spend our energy on next. And it works for physical spaces like a silverware drawer and for our values and mental loads. Today, Jessica and Michelle discuss the POP method for editing. It starts with taking everything out, evaluating what you’re working with, and putting back only what helps you thrive in y...

I can't wait for you to hear from Khrystyne Jaspers of Space Jams today. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two kids in their 1-bedroom, 750 sq ft apartment and has a design and coaching business helping other small-space dwellers - but her wisdom applies to anyone in any size house.  We're diving into topics like what to do when it hurts to let go of something, solutions for sm...

As moms, opportunities for rest might seem few and far between. We are often dealing with sleepless nights and full schedules. But there are moments of rest: physical, spiritual and emotional that are available to us even in our busiest seasons. And that rest isn't just for when we've accomplished everything on our to-do lists. If we build it into our routines, it protects against burnou...

Jessica is back! And here to talk about her platform The Mom ReFRESH - and today we’re tackling Fueling Our Bodies for the important work cut out for us.  Many times as moms, we feel like our needs are the last to meet - but fueling ourselves with whole foods, protein, fats and carbs enables us to think clearly, avoid brain fog and burnout and care better for ourselves and those around us.  Jessic...

Unreasonable Hospitality is a term and memoir by Will Guidara, an elite restaurateur whose practices helped his team make Eleven Madison Park the number one restraunt in the world in 2017.  I invited my mom, who has been my greatest teacher in unreasonable hospitality, to discuss the book and how we can adopt the principles for our homes - and create extraordinary moments of connection and love fo...

Kids are making wish-lists and dreaming of presents - let’s also get them involved with the joy of gift-giving. In this bite-sized episode of POP, I’m sharing three practical ways to bring kids in on the fun of giving gifts! Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!  @prettyoverperfect

My aunt is a hostess-extraordinaire and the one I’ve learned so much from when it comes to food, entertainment, mission and ideas for welcoming people into our homes and taking care of them. You’ll learn so much from her perspective that hosting is a skill we can grow into by opening our homes with the desire to love and serve, and learning from our mistakes and successes as we go.  She covers die...

Everyone wants to get a littler cozier this time of year - but just what kind of cozy is right for you? Let's explore with the four energies - whether you're fun-loving, comfort-seeking, a go-getter or a process perfecter, knowing which  fabrics, colors, textures, patterns and design elements will work best for you helps you unlock your cozy season in an all new way! Take the Energy and...

We can’t hide who we truly are in crisis - and no one else can, either. Which is why it’s good to understand people’s natural energies when dealing with stressful situations. When we understand why and how we tick, we can also extend grace to others as they handle things - even if they are handling it differently then we want them to .  Do you know your energy type? Take the quiz here! Type 1s are...

We all want to create and be a part of a village of support for our children, and the teachers at our schools are a huge part of that. Marcela is here as a former classroom teacher and current teacher educator to talk about homework, attention spans and how to support your children as students at home and in the classroom.  Hear Marcela’s last episode all about living a life of abundance here.  Co...

Pretty Over Perfect in Real Life - come hang out with Michelle and Erica as they chat about implementing the systems and skills we talk about here to turn Erica's house into a real life dream home! Together they turned her chaos into calm and overcame the overwhelm so her family can finally live the way they've always wanted to in their home. And check out the brand-spanking-new PrettyOv...

We all have to feed ourselves and our families, but if the traditional idea of meal planning doesn’t work well for your family (or it makes you feel trapped), this is the episode for you! Simple steps to create your family’s very own fusion restaurant. Plus! How to create a master grocery list and bonus ideas for adding a little zhuzh to your cooking!  Cookbooks I love: Cravings: Hungry for More C...

Personal trainer and all-around amazing superhuman, Georgia, joins us to talk about simple ways we can rethink nutrition, get moving and fuel our bodies for the performance of life.  Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you!  @prettyoverperfect

I'm excited to bring a special guest, my friend, Chaleah, to talk about parenting through a tough situation - her husband's deployment. We dive into her strategies to set herself up for success, as well as the things that bring her joy while solo parenting for long periods of time.  Her recommendations: 3 Minute Gratitude Journal Grow Bags for transportable gardens (and the plants don&ap...

Today I'm joined by my bookworm teenager, Ellie, as we talk all about how to get kids reading - with our favorite books for kids in all age categories.  Here are some of our favorite books: Picture Books (Babies and Toddlers) Sophie's Squash Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch I Love You the Purplest Read-Aloud Chapter Books (Preschoolers) A Little Princess The Wild Robot The 101 Dalmations Mar...

Summer trips are calling - so let’s get packing! Listen for our top tips for packing lightly with families and enjoying your trip more as a result - having just what you need and not being weighed down with extra baggage!  Ask your local library for audio book devices like Playaway.  Interconnecting headphones are great for kids sharing a backseat and an audio experience.  I wasn’t aware of these...