Facing 40

Questions found here.

Questions from here.

Life Hack Resources- salad chopper bowl- microfiber towels- decluttering printable by The Minimal Mom (her YouTube channel is awesome)- Jordan Page hack videos- Insight Timer Power Nap by Andrew Johnson (the app is free)- Michael Sealey hypnosis videos- Valerie’s favorite sleep mask- nightstand mini-fridge

Small Talk- Valerie’s pole dancing classBig Talk- What is a women’s circle? - Shakti Soul Collective

Small TalkSuzanne's obsessive packing ritualKat Nesbitt YouTube channel (flight attendant videos/travel tips)How To Travel On A Budget: 14 Creative Tips That No One Talks AboutBig Talk5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Small TalkEarly experiences with female relationships vs female relationships post-marriage/childrenBig TalkWomxn's Circle explanationShakti Soul CollectiveOur experiences with boudoirthe power of a women’s circleKB Digital Designs Boudoir Photography Dealing with insecure moments (body insecurities as women).

Valerie and Suzanne deep dive into what it means to be millenials.

Small Talk:Suzanne’s Spotify concert hackManifesting our Lizzo concert experienceBig Talk:Our outfits - Suzanne's sequin romper, Valerie’s sheer maxi top (similar, similar) + faux leather leggingsThe energy shift that happened at LizzoHow our sons will be affected by our flamboyancehaving friends to “fly our freak flags” withSuzanne’s selfie lightChurch/Spiritual revival can happen anywhereLizzo’s Mantras “I love you, you are beautiful and you can do anything.”Loving yourself is more powerful than anything

SMALL TALK: - Boobs.BIG TALK:- How we emotionally feel about aging- What media has told us about getting older- What the women in our lives have told us about getting older- What unconscious bias we have about getting old- Aging is a journeyLove & Let Go

SMALL TALK:- Looking back to 2010.BIG TALK:- Determining a "resolution"--or not- Connect with inner guidance- How do you best receive guidance?- Writing Down Your Soul by Janet Conner- Reference Top Regrets of the Dying- Focus on healing the stuff that comes up instead of numbing/self-sabotage- Build resolutions from a point of self-love/self-acceptance- DON’Ts for resolutions- Shed your 2019 skin- New Decade, New Mindset- More pleasure, more joy, more play- Your focus/attention IS your power- AccountabilityLove & Let Go for 2019!

Small Talk:Waxing Experiences (down there)Judged by dermatologist’s questionnaireThe merits of Suzanne’s “3 beer buzz”Girl, wash your face (and then slather on vanicream to marinate through the night)Big Talk:Options in AgingDo nothing - at allMinimal InterventionModerate InterventionAdvanced InterventionOur goal is not to want to stop the aging process, but wanting to optimize the aging rate.Giving yourself permission to make it a priorityTaking things from each avenue and incorporate them into your routineRecognize if you have unrealistic expectations/motivations.

Small Talk:- Post-concert experience (having kids)- Making friends as an adult transplant- [re]introducing our husbands- Adult friendship icebreakersBig Talk:- Giving grace to people and yourself “you get what you get” approach- The Four agreements- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown- The Shift: Taking Your Life from Ambition to Meaning- The Shift movie- Staying true to yourself Love & Let Go:Suzanne is loving that her family is leaning in to their new lives in Denver and letting go of expectations that other people have set for her.Valerie is loving riding scooters through downtown Memphis and letting go of her “all or nothing” approach to nourishing her body.

Small Talk:Suzanne and Valerie read each other's bios. Big Talk:Why we named our podcast Facing 40.This Bunmi Laditan quote sets the whole mood of our podcast:“I know as a woman I'm supposed to be afraid of getting older but I love this shit so much. Every year I sink deeper into this bath of unapologetic realness and it's amazing.”How we feel about being millenials. How all of us living our lives out loud and being so connected could help us live more authentic lives. Defining and redefining middle age and midlife. Valerie talks about approaching a midlife crisis and how Brené Brown’s article about the midlife unraveling is helping to guide her to “midlove”. How exhausting it is to only broadcast your “highlight reel”. Feeling safe showing up as who you really are. Over-identifying with roleplaying in our real lives and how it has affected us. How we’ve believed that we’re “too much” and “not enough”. “…it seems as if we spend the first half of our lives shutting down feelings to stop the hurt, and the second half trying to open everything back up to heal the hurt.”The Invitation by Oriah Mountain DreamerLove & Let Go:Suzanne loves dance parties with her sons and is letting go of the life she was living in Oklahoma and what she gave up to move to Denver.Valerie loves her womxn’s circle and is letting go of playing small.