This week we're talking about the inevitable experience of failure and how to hone the skill of starting over. Setbacks can be crushing, but they only turn permanent if you quit. In this episode, we're sharing our own vulnerable failure stories and the things that have helped us to get back on our feet.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess

Mindset shifts:

Sometimes you have to quit

no one owes you anything

BOOK REPORT

Emma: Uprooted By Naomi Novik

Elsie: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing winter comforts that reliably get us through our least favorite season of the year.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

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Winter Comforts:

Elsie: Books in bed!

Emma: Snow Suit

Elsie: Hot water - tea, coffee, apple cider, hot toddies, hot tubs, and bathes

Emma: Daydream, redecorate, and organize your house

Elsie: Go out with friends. (get out of the house!!)

Emma: Game of fire, cozy life

Guilty Pleasure Treasure:

Elsie: Christopher Nolan movies

Emma: Turkish Delights and Vanilla powder from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Book Report:

Elsie: The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maas

Emma: The Ministry of Time

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week, we're watching the 1995 classic Empire Records. We're also doing a hot take debate about technological advances, and we're bringing back our segment guilty pleasure treasure.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Go to brooklynbedding.com and use promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide

Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.

Guilty Pleasure Teasure:

Elsie - American Funyuns

Emma - American Oreos

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we are discussing core values. We'll share our results from the Values Bridge quiz, as well as our thoughts on how defining core values can improve your life. And in our hot take debate, we're discussing separating art from the artist and rounding it out with whether or not we refrigerate our butter. All the important things that you need to know.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

https://thevaluesbridge.com/

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

In honor of Emma's 40th birthday, this week we're doing an official midlife crisis episode. Our experiences didn't go exactly like the movies, and we have a lot to discuss. It's going to be fun!

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess

Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

Guilty Pleasure Treasure:

Emma: Cinnamon dragons

Elsie: Watch a period piece while on period

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

We get a lot of questions from people starting on their very first novel. So in this week's episode, we're giving you all the advice that we wish we could time travel back and give ourselves on the day we started our first novels. There's so much writing advice out there, and no matter who you are, it's not all going to work for you. So in this episode, we'll share things to think about and consider as you plot and plan to begin a draft of your very first novel. And the bottom line is, you can do it, and we are here to cheer you on.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

You can try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home

Tips for new writers:

Give yourself a writing assignment

Just write your first novel

Immerse don't tell

Read

Get really comfort drafting unpolished

Be a joyful student

Invest a lot of time in ideation

Learn about the business of publishing

Your writing routine matters

Resources:

Show Don't Tell by Sandra Greth

Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Write your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell

The Author's Publishing Playbook by Carly Watters

https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're discussing big and small things we want to learn. This episode is a great space for brainstorming. If you've been thinking that you'd like to pick up a new hobby. We're each discussing five big and small things that we'd like to learn in the near future. And we're also doing a hot take debate on the topic of plastic treat bags at children's birthday parties.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Start saving money with Dupe.com today

Go to brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide

5 Things we want to learn

Emma:

1. Learn Spanish
2. Play piano
3. Learn to write microfiction
4. Cooking and recipes
5. Painting

Elsie:

1. Water Marbling
2. Writing poetry
3. Classical painting lessons
4. Make 3 Ina Garten recipes
5. Book binding

Book Report:

Emma - The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria

Elsie - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're talking about Elsie's new newsletter, why newsletters are sometimes even better than blogs, and our advice for how to make your newsletter stand out if you're starting your own. We are also going to be debating a listener hot take that's about homeschooling.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

Check out Elsie's newsletter: https://www.elsielarson.com/

Check out Elise's newsletter: https://www.elisejoy.com/

What will the newsletter be:

Cozy

Curious

Photos of crafts and things she's making

Stories and essays

Life updates

Entertaining

What the newsletter won't be:

Writing DIYs

Not written by AI

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.