Ash and Meg

Did you know that it takes 66 days to successfully create a habit?  That seems like a long time and a lot of opportunity for failure.  In this episode, Val, from The Centered Life Therapy Group shares 3 ways you can successfully develop good habits that will stick.  One example is habit stacking.  Lets say you want to start taking care of your skin.  Tell yourself, "when I brush my teeth at night I will wash my face".  To learn more, tune into this episode.  We also share some habits we plan on implementing.  

I have never thought about what I would go back and tell myself as a young adult until I saw someone else do a blog post on that same topic.   It got me thinking, WOW!  I would tell myself A LOT!!   Like TRAVEL and INVEST.  But also, LET LOOSE stop trying to grow up so damn fast.  We have the rest of our lives for that.   Be sure to tune into episode 61 as we have some great advice for not only our millennial listeners but also parents of young adults and how you can guide them to live their best (and responsible) twenty-something year old life!    

We all hear, "I am too old" or "it is too late to start that", in short, the answer to that is NOPE.   This episode was so inspiring to record because we realized there are some excuses we have been making that we really should not.  What is one thing you think you are too old to start? Time to rid toxic friends or relationships?  Finally loose those pesky 25 pounds? Start a new hobby? Career change?    We have them all covered for you and WHY you should go for it.   Hey, we only live once.  You can evolve or stay the same.  What do you choose?

It is never to early or too late to teach your child kindness.  In this episode we share five simple ways you can teach your child kindness. Kindness is a learned behavior, so lead by example and raise good humans. 

Some days we slay motherhood like a dragon and other days we walk around all day with a dinosaur sticker stuck to our bottom.  Having confidence as a mom can be a struggle.  It shows up as anxiety, comparison, and isolation.  We loose a little bit of ourselves when we become a mom and therefore, impact our confidence.  Val, licensed therapist from The Centered Life Therapy Group, shares three ways to improve our momfidence.  Number one, affirmations!  Pick a positive statement about yourself and repeat it daily.  To hear the other two (one will surprise you!) tune into episode 58!  

Anyone else struggle with self motivation?  We do!  Especially when it comes to things that are out of our comfort zone.  We came up with 5 effective ways to motivate yourself that will help you become a more productive person personally and professionally.  One of our favorite ways to self motivate is to reward yourself!  Who doesn't want a massage or new outfit?  Make a goal and if you stick to your plan then reward yourself at the end of the month!   To hear 4 other effective ways to motivate yourself tune into this episode!  

As the kids head back to school it is important to set routines and expectations. This structure will help the transition from summer to school go much smoother.  We all hate the mad morning rush and feeling terrible about loosing our temper as the kids run out the door.  Or how about the 10pm "I forgot I had homework" stressor?!  We have complied a list of ten effective routines that will significantly help eliminate those last minute freak outs. 

We all WANT to have a happy and healthy relationship with our significant other, but the fact is, life and relationships are hard and messy.  Val from The Centered Life Therapy Group shares three ways we can develop and maintain a happy and healthy relationship.  Taking ownership of what we CAN do and implementing these simple, yet life changing habits will take your relationship from point A to point B.  Be sure to tune into the end so you can take advantage of Val's special offer that can help transform your life.  

Have you ever been put in a situation where you felt completely defeated?   Us too!   Tune in to hear about how we have learned to rise above really tough situations.  Through our examples we hope to encourage you to rise above. 

Summer time is fun, relaxing, and a much needed break from the daily routine of the school year.  Kids have a tendency to go down the summer slide.   Lets prevent this summer slide and keeping the kids physically active.  We have provided some easy routines to incorporate into your families day that will keep the kids motivated, active and their behavior in check.  And most importantly keep parents sane! 

We use our emotions for everything.  Emotions effect our decision-making, motivation, connection to others, and how we spend our time.  Emotions kick in before logic. The difference between how someone responds to a situation is emotion vs logic.  In this episode Val talks to us about how we have no control over the EVENT, but we do have 100% control over the RESPONSE and this has a direct effect on the OUTCOME. So the big question here is how do we change our response (“R”)? Tune in to learn how! 

Hey Chicago followers, this podcast is especially for you!  However, any of you can get some awesome ideas for your summer bucket list around your own city.   Meg surprised me with a few things I have never done and definitely want to put on our summer todo's!        

Episode 50 is keeping it light hearted and fun.  Ash and Meg share 10 truths you don't know.  They both learned something about each other as well!   Who doesn't love a little game of truth and dare, minus the dare?!   Pretty sure they ended the episode and said "I cannot believe I shared that!!"  Tune in to learn more about the duo! 

Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. Being mindful teaches us how to 'be' rather than 'do'. Do/Action=motion. Being=recognizing and sitting with our emotions.   In this episode Ash sits down with a licensed social worker who specializes in mindfulness and has 11 years working specifically with teenagers.  She explains the benefits of living a mindful life, takes us through a lesson, and gives examples on how we can implement these practices into our daily life.    

Having a positive body image can be a struggle sometimes, especially for woman.  Both Meg and Ash have had body image struggles but are learning to embrace their imperfections.  They also discuss why it is so important to have positive self talk in front of their children.  Tune in to hear about their insecurities and how they are overcoming this challenge.   

The way we express love, is usually the way we need to receive love. This is pretty powerful when you think about it for a minute. Do you really know what your significant other needs to feel loved? You might think you know the answer to this, but we will tell you, it is pretty eye-opening when you actually take a quiz and dive into the 5 Love Languages.  Val, a licensed therapist, talks with us on how important it is to know your partner's Love Language and how to express your love so they can feel it.   

Spring has sprung and now is the time to crack your windows, disinfect and declutter.  We love to follow a schedule, especially anything related to Martha Stewart.  We have some helpful tips for you to get your home clean THIS month.  We make cleaning fun.   

Time Mapping is a tool to help you assess how you are spending your time and how productive you are spending your time.  Time mapping is different than using a planner.  Listen to this podcast to hear how you can change the course of your day and life. 

Having a boy who dances isn't exactly the norm.  But it is so cool!  Listen to this episode to hear how important it is to encourage your children to follow their passion and support them in whatever they choose to do.   

In Episode 43, Meg gets microbladed.   She shares her entire experience about why she decided to go this route and how she immediately regained her confidence!  In this episode you will learn more about the process and what to expect before, during, and after.  If you have been considering microblading to get those over plucked, thinned out brows back, you will not want to miss this one!   

As woman, it is so important to check in and see how you are doing emotionally. PsychoTherapist, Val, joins us to give three tips on how to get emotionally healthy in 2019.  One task she gives us is to make a list of who fulfills you.  Name 2-5 people and carve out intentional time with them each month.  Your cup should be overflowing when you leave your time with them.  Tune in to hear more about this tip and two more.  

Having an intolerance to fructose can be causing your nausea, diarrhea, bloating, chronic fatigue and more.  Tune in to hear Ash's story and how she finally got a diagnosis more specific than IBS.  Fructose Malabsorption is treatable and can be managed with diet changes. 

Have you ever felt like such a disaster but no one related to you??  Well that is what happened to us.   We labeled ourselves as disasters.  The Two Beautiful Disasters. Its not that we don't love our name, but we want to be true to what we are putting out there.  Listen in to hear more about what to expect to hear from us in the near future. 

Are you one of the 20 million Americans who struggle with thyroid dysfunction?  In this episode, Meg shares the details of her journey with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, some key warnings signs to look for, the not so fun side effects and what you should do today to ensure your thyroid is functioning properly for overall health.  Meg also addresses how this has effected her fertility.  If you or someone you know can relate, be sure to tune in. 

In this episode Ash and Meg give 5 tips to organize and tidy up your life.   These are attainable to-dos that we can all fit into our busy schedule and will ultimately make your life less of a clutter.  One example Meg shares is to unsubscribe to 5-10 emails a day.   That will certainly lighten your inbox!  Tune into episode 38 to hear more!     

In this episode Ash and Meg have psychologist, Val, from Centered Life Therapy as a guest to discuss tools on how to communicate effectively.  Be sure to tune in to hear how you can stop talking and start communicating.    

On this episode, in which we are naming our "season finale", we talk about all the ups and downs we have had as new bloggers/podcasters this year.  It has been an evolution.  Tune in to hear what we feel like went great, not so great, and where we are going next.  Trust us when we say, "it will be the most dramatic season yet"!

Do you struggle with travel anxiety?  It is common to feel anxious if you are not an avid traveler, especially during the holidays.  Meg has been traveling for years, both personally and professionally.  She shares all the details on the best travel tips to ease airport anxiety and even help you pack more efficiently!  Tune in to this episode to hear all of our air travel tips and tricks to get you through the madness!   

Do you practice gratitude daily?  In this episode Ash and Meg talk about their struggles practicing gratitude as well as some Earth moving tips on how you can start living with gratitude today!  This practice will allow you to start living a life of pure joy.  Join us on our gratitude challenge!  Details enclosed in the podcast.  

Do you struggle with feeling less confident when you are a few pounds heavier?   We do.  Or comparing your 40 year old body to your 30 year old body?   Us too.    We know this isn't necessarily healthy but it is something we do and we don't want to associate our confidence level with our weight or body image any longer.   This doesn't mean we don't want to be our best selves, healthy and fit!  But it means we aren't going to kill ourselves to be something we may not be again or give up our favorite foods or wine (everything in moderation, right?!) Listen into episode 33 to hear more!   

We are getting ready for the holidays over here and checking our list and checking it twice...but don't forget to put your spouse on it!  In episode 32 we talk about prioritizing your marriage, especially during the stress of the holiday season!  Our friend, Val Spiropoulous, co-owner and psychotherapist of The Centered Life Therapy group is back again to give us her expert advice on this topic.  She shares three key ways we can reconnect with our significant other to make them feel appreciated during this crazy time but anytime, really!  One of our key takeaways is checking in with them.  In other words, include them in the planning.  They may not want to be a part of the process but they will feel appreciated knowing you asked for their opinion...just be sure you are actually ready for that opinion!    Tune in to hear more great tips and advice and watch your marriage thrive!   

The holiday season is right around the corner.  We have 9 tips that will save you time, space, and your sanity during the most hectic time of the year.  Be sure to stay tuned till the end where we share our latest adventure in the city.    (shenanigans!) 

Comparison is the thief of joy, especially when it comes to being a mom and constantly wondering if what we are doing is right or wrong. In episode 30 we have some straight up real talk about life, mom guilt, oh and LL Cool J.  Be sure to tune in!   

In episode 29 we talk about emotional triggers.  We all have them right?!   In efforts to stay authentic we share a few of our emotional triggers as well as share WHY we get set off and some researched based ways to overcome your emotional triggers.  It is always nice to have tools so you can stop yourself from creating a mountain out of a molehill!   Be sure to tune in!!   

In this episode, Meg and Ash sit down with a Registered Dietitian.  She tells us five things we need to know to help us fight the bloat and live a healthy life.  One thing we found jaw dropping was the amount of sugar the American Heart Association tells us we should consume daily.  We have some adjusting to do!!  To find out more details on this as well as four other tips you don't want to miss, tune into episode 28!

Do you struggle living in the moment?  We do!  Tune into this episode to hear how Ash and Meg struggle to be present and how it effects their personal lives. They also share 3 EASY ways you can practice mindfulness to start living your BEST life today!  

Have you heard of the quote, "when momma's happy, everyone is happy" or "happy wife, happy life"??    There is some truth to this.  We have to find inner peace to be our best for those closest to us.  But how do you develop a healthy relationship with yourself so you can have a healthy relationship with your spouse??    Val Spiropolous, therapist and owner of The Centered Life, offers us a few ways we can develop a healthy relationship with ourselves so we can have a healthy relationship with others.   

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the million things we need to do that we forget to live in the moment and stay true to ourselves.  We start to morph into someone different and pretend we have it all together only to get a little burned along the way.  "To be authentic, we must cultivate the courage to be imperfect and vulnerable.  We have to believe that we are fundamentally worthy of love and acceptance, just as we are."  -Brene' Brown    

We all have days where we are feeling a little overwhelmed.  The hard thing is when we have too many days in a row where we feel overwhelmed and then become negative nellies when the chips fall.  In this episode we are talking about staying optimistic and provide a few key points on how to implement and practice optimism into our daily lives.  When we are optimistic, we are more confident.  When we are confident we are unstoppable!   You don't want to miss this one!  

Do you have trouble finding your balance?  We are struggling lately, friends!   Ash talks about her move and struggling to feel a sense of belonging.  Meg talks about trying to balance her work, life, and fitness schedule.  Gosh, life can be hard sometimes. It helps to talk it out!  Listen in to Ash and Meg being extremely honest about where they are in their life.  Hey, life is a beautiful disaster! 

OMG  We can't can't stop and won't stop!  That is pretty much how our summer has gone.  We have loved every second and lived our best lives.  But, these two disasters fell off the tracks a little.  In this episode we talk about the need to re-set some goals and get it together!   If you are like us and need a little inspiration to get back on the train, TUNE IN!   

Back-to-School Prep!   Yep!!   We are about to get this party started over here.  Mid-August and our school year is officially starting this week!   Are we ready for school??   Ummm...NO!   BUT, we are sharing some ideas and tips on how to prep yourself and/or kids for the new school routine.  We talk about everything from organization and new school gear to pep talks with your kids about being kind and accepting to others.  Tune in for some fun hacks to make your year start off right!   

In this episode Ash and Meg are talking about being bloated and stomach pains.  Maybe TMI, or maybe you can relate.  Either way, tune in to hear about some of our thoughts, research and Ash's experience with going Gluten Free. 

In this episode Meg and Ash talk all about life lately.  Meg tells us all about her recent girls trip to Nashville and Ash talks about her trip with the big kids for dance Nationals.  Then they get to the nitty gritty.  They talk about taking action on the things we want in life vs sitting back and constantly saying we will do something and never getting it done.  We are taking action to be a better version of ourselves.  The past and the future are not the same and we need to do some soul-searching, create a vision, make a plan and slay! Tune in to hear some of our personal growth goals!   

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live each day with a meaningful purpose?   What about to have a goal or a vision and not be fearful to live it out?   That is what we are talking about on today's show.  This show wasn't really planned out so it is completely, 100% authentic and allowed us to make some major breakthroughs.   Especially in the days to follow recording.  We cannot wait to share more!  Be sure to listen into the beginning to new beginnings.  

We are not domestic goddesses. Raise your hand if you have a hard time keeping up!!  It is struggle city for both of us!  Always the best intentions but really tough on the follow through.  We are always working on it and have lots of tips on how to improve.     Also listen in to hear about what we have been up to!  Listen into an update to Ash's recent move, her new tooth, and Meg's weekend in the city.  

In this episode Meg and Ash are talking about “Setting Personal Boundaries”. Hey! We all need to set limits with family, friends, co-workers, and significant others. These boundaries help us remain true to ourselves without allowing others to derail us! In our opinion, a lot of this starts with self-worth and how you feel about yourself...AND how you allow others to treat you! We share some stories about how we have had to set personal boundaries as well as ways you can begin to set them for yourself! 

Who are these Joneses anyway?  It seems super exhausting to start changing who you really are just to fit in, right?!  It is so important to stay true to yourself so your relationships remain genuine.  Ash and Meg talk about a time they felt like they had to keep up and after effects of friends who got sucked into 'keeping up with the Joneses'.  The 'beautiful disasters' are learning to be at peace with yourself and not fall into the happiness-sucker of feeling inferior.  Tune in and let us know your thoughts on this topic! 

"The Disasters" talk about judgy eyes and how annoying it is when other people judge your parenting or children.  Meg shares a specific story about an older woman telling her daughter she needed to talk during dinner instead of being on her ipad.   WHAT?!   Ash talks about a quote that struck home; "We create our own heartache through expectation" and discuss some personal expectations and how it left her feeling disappointed.  They wrap up the conversation with a recap of Southern Charm-Charleston and their personal opinions.  

As Ash prepares for her move she is purging her home.  Going through her whole adult life is challenging and determining what to keep and what to not keep has her anxiety high.  Hear how it is going and some tips and tricks the girls have to keep this move smooth. 

Overthinking can be so toxic!  Sometimes the worst place you can be is in your own head.  If overthinking burned calories...woman would be dead.  HA What is up with us?  Why aren't we confident enough at any age to just let things be what they are...not what "think" they are?  This is the hardest emotional battle many have to overcome!  Listen in to hear ways we are working on overcoming this mindset battle! (Sidebar:..as we were listening to this podcast back we total overthought whether or not to publish because we had some papers ruffling in the background.  We decided to give ourselves grace and move forward!   Enjoy!!)