The Flourishing Life Podcast

In this episode Brandy and Brittany give a brief update on their lives as well as an update on season two!

Join Shellee and Brandy as they discuss how much joy their plant hobby brings them! They also share some great tips for caring for your plants and sharing plants with friends.

In this episode, Shellee talks all about her month long motorhome adventure in Baja Mexico with her family. She talks about things they did, if she felt safe and so much more. It truly was the trip they all needed. You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy and Brittany discuss how they typically celebrate Valentine's Day, what it might look like this year, and some fun ways to celebrate as a family.

Join us for this week's episode as Brittany and Brandy talk all about how to survive the cold winter months!

Peace out 2020, hello 2021! In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee share their favorite parts of the past year and what they are looking forward to in 2021!

Hello listeners! In this week's episode Brandy and Brittany discuss some holiday hacks to make your holiday seasons memorable and fun! We hope that you enjoy this episode and that it helps you celebrate the things that matter. Merry Christmas!

Join us as we discuss our first book club book The Lazy Genius Way!

In this Episode, Brandy, Brittany and Shellee talk all about how school has been going for them each this year. While there may be some challenges they all are happy with the decisions they each made for their families. They also discovered some surprises along the way. Listen in to hear their encouragements when it comes to schooling this year. Remember don't be afraid to make a change if its not working for you! Miracle-Gro Plant Food Home and Haven Winter Bundle You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Per a listener's request, Brandy and Brittany share their morning routines! They both feel very differently about routines, but agree that having one makes a big difference in how their day goes. We would love to hear about your routine- please share it with us! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Brandy and Shellee talk all things Halloween. They decide too many things have been cancelled already this year and they aren't letting a pandemic get in the way of their good time, even if it looks a little different this year. They came up with fun creative ways to celebrate all month with their family and friends in a safe way. Listen in to hear what they came up with. You may even get to hear about some costume fails from years past. You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Our podcast is one year old! We cannot believe we have been podcasting for a whole year. In this episode we talk about what we love, what we've learned, the challenges we have faced, and what our favorite episodes are. We would love to hear what your favorite episodes are! Please share and tag us on social media so we can see, or please just shoot us an email! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Hello listeners! In this episode we invite you to join our book club! Please listen in for all the details and find out what the first book we will be reading is. Here are the links to the things that we talked about in this episode: The Lazy Genius website: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/ The Lazy Genius book: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/book Don't Mom Alone podcast: https://dontmomalone.com/podcast-show/ You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast. We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy and Brittany discuss how they are bringing back home-ec this fall! They are both looking forward to homeschooling and are seeking different  ways to incorporate cooking into their curriculum. We hope this episode inspires you to get your kids into the kitchen this fall and cook some yummy things! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy and Shellee discuss what they have decided is the best route for their family this fall. Shellee is excited to be sending her kids to a new charter school while she is feeling blessed with this opportunity she is having major homeschool fomo. Brandy has decided to homeschool this year and is taking this opportunity to reach above and beyond the normal realm of school teaching. While they are both nervous for their journeys they are happy they have each other. Cheers to what the school year will bring and having your community to do it with. Simple Human Trash Can You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy and Brittany give an update on their summer, a few highlights, and what they still want to do this summer. They share how they are still seeing friends and how they are letting their kids safely see friends. Friendship looks so different during these times, and navigating these unknown waters can be very difficult, but because they believe friendship is so important they are willing to figure out how to safely see friends in ways that everyone is comfortable. Stay safe and connected, friends! Brittany's favorite Fishpeople tuna You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy, Brittany and Shellee recap their family trip to Lake Shasta. Houseboating with 25 people (including 12 children!) is quite an adventure, but it was also a very relaxing time. They share their highs and lows, what went well, and what they will do differently next year. We hope this inspires you to spend time with the people you love! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy and Shellee talk all things packing in this episode. They share their system for packing, how they get their kids involved, how they stay organized, and whether on not they leave their husbands to fend for themselves in this realm. We hope this gives you some tips and tricks in getting you and your family set up for some fun!

Brandy, Brittany and Shellee take a look back to the beginning of 2020 when we all thought the year you would look slightly different than it does. We recap our goals for 2020 and the progress we have made. Some have gone better than others, but when you have a pandemic on your hands that is to be expected. Brandy shares where she is at with her book count and blows Brittany's mind. Lucky for us we still have the rest of the year to get on these goals! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com Women's Neida EVA Two Band Slide Sandals - Shade & Shore

In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee discuss their summer plans, how the pandemic has affected their plans so far, and what they are looking forward to. They ponder what the shower situation will be like on their big family trip- houseboating for a week on Lake Shasta with all 25 of them, and agree that the trip is going to be quite an adventure! They mourn the fact that there is no substitute for kids summer camp, but agree that leaving your kids at home alone just isn't the same thing, nor is it safe or legal. We know this summer will be very different, but are committed finding joy in little things, and making adjustments so as to get the most out of this extended time we have with our families! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee discuss how they are transitioning into socializing and seeing friends again! They discuss how sensitive this subject is, how they are having a difficult time talking about it and trying to gauge where their friends are at during this time. Shellee shares how she is killing it at cutting not only her boys hair, but also her husbands, and Brittany shares how her personal space bubble is so big she has pretty much been social distancing her whole life. Brandy let it slip that she has an abundance of toilet paper, so if you need some reach out to her! We hope you are having some good conversations with friends and finding a way to move forward that you are comfortable with.

Due to COVID-19 we are going to be releasing episodes every other week. We have many episodes in the archives so be sure to check out any episodes that you may have missed!

Distance learning has its highs and lows, and in this episode Brandy and Brittany discuss how it is going for them and their families. There has been tears on everyone's part, especially Brittany's, but they are getting the work done and keeping their kids learning. They share some tips and tricks they have discovered, talk about what has been working for them, and how to step back from things that aren't going well. We hope you are doing well, staying sane, and staying safe. You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

We all have to eat, even during quarantine! In this episode Brandy and Brittany share how they are feeding  their families during this time. They discuss what dinner and meal times typically look like for their families, and who is normally in charge of preparing those meals, and what it looks like for them now. Brittany wonders if apples do really clean your teeth, as she once heard, and Brandy shares how she feels like a meal isn't complete without 28 different items (okay, that might be a stretch, but she does have a lot of different items). They share what kinds of meal they have been eating lately, and a few new things they have tried. Since the dinner menu seems to be the only thing that changes from day to day, we hope this gives you a few new ideas on what to make for yourself and your family. Stay safe friends! Check out the show notes on our website for the links! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee share how they are making lemons into lemonade! Or in more relevant terms, finding a way to make the most during this time of self-isolation. Brandy shares how she loves the new fad of birthday parades, Brittany shares how her children not only act feral, but now completely look feral, and Shellee reveals her secret for amazing eye lashes. They discuss how weekends seem like they are 10 months long now, how FOMO is no longer a thing, and Shellee boasts of all the compliments she is getting on her new leggings! We hope this episode finds you well, friends! Dadosaur Mom and son ping pong pot challenge 5 Minute artisan bread Sourdough bread library Amish friendship bread starter You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Hi Friends! In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee check in and discuss how they are doing in these crazy times. They talk about what they are finding challenging, from anxiety to homeschooling, to keeping toilet paper stocked and just generally keeping the house clean, they cover it all. Through the challenges they also recognize that there are some good things about this interesting period, including family time, blossoming sibling relationships, and more time for long walks. Shellee shares her daughter Olivia's calculations about the future, and Brittany divulges her son Bennett's plan to catch the Easter Bunny. Growing a garden with scrap vegetables is what is on Brandy's mind right now, which she is excited to share with her fellow podcasters once this quarantine time is over. Stay well friends! The hundred  year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared Aveeno Positively Radiant peel off mask Brene Brown on Anxiety, Calm, + Over/Under Functioning Rachel Hollis How to Choose Joy (Yes, Even Today) with Gretchen Rubin

We have a very special guest, Brandy's husband, Bret for our first interview! They discuss what their daily community life looks like right now, and by that we mean life with their immediate family. Bret shares how he used to being the activities director for their friend group and family, but has now focused all of his activity and game planning on the 5 lucky people he lives with. They share what their typical day looks like, how they juggle their full time jobs and home-schooling, and Bret shares his tip for 30 minute meals (why do in 30 minutes what you can do in 90?!). Bret also discusses what community looks like for him right now, how he is connecting with friends, and ways he is supporting his team at work. We hope this gives you some tips and encouragement during this crazy time! Stay safe friends! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brittany shares all about her 3 week adventure to Panama and Costa Rica! She recaps where they stayed, what they did, and some cute animals and scary bugs they saw along the way! The most interesting/frightening place they stayed was the second place, so she shares how it was all uphill from there on out! Brittany shares how the global pandemic affected their trip, but how fortunate they were to have such a great trip anyway. She shares how they bonded as a family, and how she realized that a year-long trip around the world might not be as far-fetched as she once thought. Brandy and Brittany discuss their current thoughts on quarantine, how they are coping, how their families are coping, and some positive things that have come out of this time so far. We hope this episode finds you well, and that you find a way to connect with your friends and family even if you can't physically be with them. You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast we would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com Podcast Recommendations: Stories Podcast Story Pirates What we are into: Marco Polo Zoom

Brandy and Shellee discuss an article they found on Forbes about social distancing and isolation. In the article two former astronauts give some incite on 7 ways that you can cope with these issues. They discuss how they have been doing over the past week at home then dive into the 7 points discussed in the article. They have some great tips on things that they have been doing to cope from walks to helping friends to communicating better with their husbands. We hope you are encouraged and find some new ways that you can cope. Stay healthy and safe friends! You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com Article: Former astronauts share ways to cope with social distancing and isolation

Brandy and Shellee do a late night, remote recording session to discuss a pandemic that is affecting people world wide. We are all forced into spending more time at home with our families. Shellee is feeling very blessed by this extra time with family. Brandy is very grateful that she has a flexible job in this season where some aren't able to work. They are both working through the unknown and new schedules. They talk about knowing yourself and what makes you feel good as an individual. This can help you be more productive. They share some practical tips on how you can keep in contact with your friends.(Hint: Technology is amazing!) Community is more important than ever, reach out to those who might not have anyone to lean on. Shellee has noticed people are more receptive in this crisis. They have some encouraging words to share during this trivial time. Brandy has some great book and podcast recommendations for you. We hope you are all able to find a way to stay in touch with the community around you during this time of social distancing. You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com Book Recommendations: Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine By Gail Honeyman The whisper network By Chandler Baker Born a crime By Trevor Noah The godfather By Mario Puzo Podcast Recommendations: The girl next door podcast Best of both worlds Wow in the world What we are into: Collagen Under Eye Patches TAZO Wild Orange Tea

In this episode Brandy, Brittany and Shellee discuss how they help their kids foster good friendships with their siblings and other kids. Since they have quite a few kids between the three of them, they have a lot to say about this! They also discuss how they are using more and more sayings that they heard their mother's use growing up, some of which are not a good idea to share with their own kids. As always they find many things to laugh about as they dive into this important topic!  We hope you enjoy listening in!  KISS Press-on Nails You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy recently celebrated a birthday, so today Brandy and Brittany discuss all things birthday related! Brittany shares of her true love of birthdays and Brandy admits she is not the biggest fan. They each share about their most memorable birthdays, and how they currently celebrate their special day, and how they love on their friends and family on their birthdays. We hope this encourages you to treat yourself on your birthday and love on your friends and family on their special day! Renata Loacker Hazelnut Quadratini cookies You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy and Shellee give tips and advice on getting out of your own way when it comes to hosting. They discuss scheduling, providing food and drinks, and the stigma of having to clean your house. Brandy lays it all out there with some great tips to get you by in a pinch. They also give some ideas on how to make your home feel more welcoming to your guests. Sally Hansen Gel Polish You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast  We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Getting and giving advice is one of joys and benefits of friendship, and today Brandy, Shellee and Brittany talk all about it! They talk about everything from taking care of yourself, to taking care of your kids, and even caring for your plants! We hope this episode encourages you to think about good advice you have received and how you can share your thoughts and wisdom with your friends. Josie Maran Concealer Dr. Brandt Retinol Eye cream

Everyone has bad days every once in a while, and in this episode Brandy and Brittany talk about how they get through a bad, how to help friends who are having a bad day, and how to ask for help during these times. Brittany shares how she secretly tries to integrate animals into every episode, and Brandy shares how her airpods and bluetooth fight for dominance. We hope this episode encourages you to think of your own ways to get through a bad day, and how you can reach out to others during those times! Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Airpods Healthy Instant Pot Mongolain Beef You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy and Shellee talk about celebrating valentines day and what that looks like for each of them. Brandy shares some special traditions that have been passed down for generations. They discuss the idea that valentine's day isn't just a romantic holiday but can be a great way to show our friends some love as well. Shellee looks back on a few fun galantine's parties that she has been invited to and gives some ideas of things you can do with your friends. Brandy gets candid with how intense she can really be even while shopping for flowers. We hope this episode encourages you to show some extra love to those around you this valentine's day! Here are the links to a few fun things we talked about: Our Q&A a day: 3-year journal for 2 people Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups A Mindful Moms Instant Pot French Onion Soup (Close to Shellee's) -Shellee doesn't do any brown sugar -She adds a couple dashes of balsamic vinegar -you can use garlic instead of shallots You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy, Shellee and Brittany talk about what they were into in 2019. We discuss fun things we did with our friends, things we did with our families, and what we personally loved. Shellee shares her continuous love for her instant pot, Brittany talks about her fear of getting eaten by a wild animal while camping, and Brandy chimes in with how dangerous geese and squirrels can be. We hope this episode inspires you to look back on 2019 and reflect on all of the things you loved about it! Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Columbia Snow Boots Instant Pot Naptime Kitchen Instant Hot Water Dispenser You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy and Brittany share some things they want to do with their friends in 2020, ranging from hosting parties to girls trips and bringing friends food. They discuss Halloween costumes, sketchy restaurants, and whether goals and intentions are the same thing. Doing things with other families and couples is on both of their minds, ranging from wine tasting with friends, to meeting other families for a day of skiing. Brandy cautions that its always good to walk with a buddy in case you fall, Brittany confesses she cried many tears over her Halloween costume as a child. We hope this episode encourages you to think of how you want to spend time with your friends the coming year! Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Digital Minimalism Laura Vanderkam Time Tracking Log You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

2020 is here! In this episode we talk about our goals and intentions for 2020. Brandy shares how she loves all things goals, opposed to Brittany who is not big on setting goals, but decided to write down her intentions for the year. Shellee takes a different approach and chooses a word for the year. They each share a few goals or intentions, from marriage and child rearing, to personal health care and professional goals, and of course friendship goals and intentions, they cover it all. We hope this inspires you to think of the coming year, your goals and intentions, and how you can be a better friend this year. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Whirly Pop popcorn maker Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Brandy and Brittany talk about an article they recently read called "How to make mom friends and keep them", by Erin Holt, found on theeverymom.com. They discuss the complexities of making friends as a mom and how it feels like there is a lot more at stake when involving your children. They share a few times they had to accept the awkward in making friends, even when it is nerve-wracking just trying to exchange phone numbers. Brandy shares the idea of seeking out a wide range of friends, and they discuss some difficult times they went through in trying to make friends, and some ways they have cultivated their friendships over the years. They also discuss what cleaning tools work best to clean a toilet, so if you need a little info on that, then this episode is for you! We hope this episode encourages you to see out community in you own life, and we would love you hear your thoughts on it! Tag us on Facebook and Instagram!

In this episode Brandy and Shellee discuss an article, The pressure for moms to prioritize self-care is a bunch of BS, by Erin Pepler on Todaysparent.com. They talk about their opinions on the article, how they feel about self-care, and what it looks like in their lives. Shellee shares how she only runs when special drinks are involved, and Brandy shares how her meditation practice includes as much coffee as possible. We hope this article and episode gives you something to think about in terms of what self-care looks like in your own life, and how you want it to look in 2020. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Jones Design Company Massage Envy You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode we recap 2019, our highlights, and how we feel about starting this podcast. Brittany starts the episode out with a bang by sharing a a little bit about alligator safety, talks about a few trips they took in 2019, and a little about her new business, Sally & Sage. Shellee also shares about some fun vacations she took with her family, and how a trip of a life time for her husband is actually one of her highlights. Brandy talks about some of her family trips, and how even though there was an unfortunate turn of events on their trip to Hawaii, being a seasoned mom helped her get through it just fine! Our kids all transitioned into new stages of school; we discuss how that has affected our lives. We take a look at how starting the podcast has affected us, what we have learned, some challenges, and what we love about it. We are so grateful for you, our listeners, for following along in this journey with us. We hope 2019 was a wonderful year for you, and that 2020 brings you joy, friendship, and love. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Sally & Sage Tried and true Cranberry Salsa Pecan snowball cookies You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Episode Show Notes Brandy and Brittany talk about one of their favorite things in this episode- girls trips! They talk about trips they have been on, what they like to do on a girls trip, and their favorite places to go. They talk about about a trip they took last winter with their mom to Cabo San Lucas, whether or not it was a real vacation since they didn't bring a frisbee, and if whales are really a threat while swimming at the beach by their hotel. They talk about a few different aspects of planning a girls trip- who, where, how much, and what do you want to do. Brittany shares that her amazing husband is the vacation planner in her family, and how he knows their trips will never ever involve her snorkeling. They discuss the importance of knowing yourself and what kind of trip you would like to take, and how Brandy probably wouldn't enjoy a weekend of crafting, although she would conquer it and make more crafts than anyone else! They talk about setting aside mom guilt and knowing that even though you may miss some things, and your family will miss you, it is still important to get away and take care of yourself. We hope this encourages you to plan your own girls trip! Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Thai coconut curry butternut squash soup Immersion Blender Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddies) You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this Episode Brandy and Shellee talk about their own book club, and some tips on how to start your own book club. They discuss how their book club got started, what they specifically love about it,  and how they feel free to discuss topics that would typically be a no-no in social settings. They talk about how flexibility has helped them stay together for so long, and their amazing rating system for each book. Brandy and Shellee share their favorite books, and what books are in their future. And also, don't join  book club if you don't like to read. We hope this give some encouragement to help you start your own book club. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed:  Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World  The Nightingale: A Novel   Where the Crawdads Sing  Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel   The Goldfinch: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Episode Show Notes In this episode we talk about all things Christmas! What we love, our traditions, and how we love our friends during the holidays! Brandy and Shellee share how lists are the key to happiness and organization. We all agree that including kids in Christmas baking can be special, but sometimes its just better to put them to bed, pour a glass of wine and bake alone! We commiserate over cleaning ice cream out of car seat buckles as well as a hack for buying dairy queen blizzards for children. Shellee shocks even Brandy with how organized she is with her list system. Brittany shares how she isn't ready to let go of some special traditions, and Brandy talks about how they are simplifying Christmas by evaluating which traditions will continue on. We discuss the importance of self care during this busy season, and how Shellee is on the hunt for new Christmas morning breakfast tradition. Brittany shares their fun Christmas Eve tradition, and her son Bennett's plan to trap Santa. We hope this gives you a little inspiration to take care of yourself this Holiday Season, enjoy your traditions, and spend time with friends and family! Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Puppy Chow Breakfast cookies Skier's French Toast Gingerbread cookies Sugar cookies Brandy's Thermostat You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

We love the Holidays! In this episode Brittany shares how she and her husband, Ryland, host a fun and easy Holiday Cocktail Party. She shares who makes the guest list, how they go about inviting people, and whether paying to send electronic invites is really worth the money. We discuss what kind of food to make, whether or not it needs to be served on a silver platter, and how it is good to have options for people who are gluten free, dairy free, and even meat free! Brittany shares a fun holiday decorating idea and Brandy wonders if she hauls her Christmas tree out of her house to make more space for friends. We hope this episode inspires you to spend time with friends this holiday season, whether it is hosting a party, attending a party, or just meeting for coffee. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Cranberry Salsa Mom's Christmas Pretzel Mix Meringue Cookies Heating Pad You can find us on Instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast

We love Thanksgiving! Even though it is a big meal to prepare, the day can be pretty relaxing if everyone pitches in and brings a couple of things. We discuss how we prepare for the day, what we do on Thanksgiving day, and whether we prefer homemade cranberry sauce, or the kind straight from the can. Brandy shares her holiday organization hack, her family's favorite Thanksgiving tradition and how they spend their day. Shellee reveals her true feelings about our greatest Thanksgiving tradition, which after discussing we wonder why we actually love it so much. But sometimes traditions are like that! We also share our most memorable Thanksgivings, which includes friends, boats, and having a baby! You can find us on instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy and Brittany discuss how to have community and not feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Being a mom is such a privilege, and it is a joy and responsibility that we don't take lightly, but we also feel that our friendships are very important. We discuss different areas in which we struggle with guilt and whether your kids activities should take priority over your own. Brandy shares the struggle of balancing work and being present with her kids, whether her kids are in enough sports, and if buying organic bananas is really necessary. We talk about dad guilt, whether or not it's a thing, and if we think our husbands struggle in that area. Having balance in life can be such a struggle, so we hope that this episode encourages you and gives you some ideas on how to let go of guilt so you can live a more Flourishing Life. Visit our website at www.theflourishinglife.co for the link to the fun things we talked about today! You can find us on instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode Brandy, Brittany, and Shellee discuss the article, The 5 habits of people who don't feel lonely. We go over each habit and how each one applies to us, which habits we are good at, and how we would like to improve on others. We share our thoughts on naps, how to get your kids on board with you napping, and what our optimal bed time is. Shellee gives her real thoughts on her in-laws, which got complicated when we actually tried to add up how many people are in our family (hint-there are a lot, we never did get the to actual number). We reminisce on a 7k Shellee talked Brandy and Brittany into doing with her and how Brandy's husband incorporates his favorite "sport" into every aspect of life that he can. We dive a little deeper into the meaning of motherhood, and how Brandy's teaching career is impacting more than just the students she teaches. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: 5 habits of people who don't feel lonely Chocolate dipped pretzles Yogi ginger tea Instant Pot chicken burritos You can find us on instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

On this episode Brandy and Shellee discuss how they love their friends, from planning adventures to writing notes, or bringing food and flowers. We give tips on bringing people food (hint, bring the first meal in the meal train!) how to sit in sadness with your friends, and how sprinkles are way better than pancake syrup. We also have very helpful and loving friends, and share some ways in which our friends love and help us out. Sometimes we would like to outsource things like sleep and using the restroom, but there is only some much our friends can do for us. There are so many ways our friends help us, and we hope that we provide some food for thought for you on how you can better love your friends. Here are the links to a few fun things we discussed: Extra Helping by  Janet Reich Elsbach  Brene Brown Empathy Video Trader Joe's sipping chocolate You can find us on instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com

Friendships as a family and couples are so important, and in this episode we discuss what those relationships look like for us, where we found those friends, and how we have fostered that aspect of community. We talk about what relationships look like in different seasons, and seasons of life. Brandy shares her fear of germs, and the dangers of trying to sneak your own beverages into the neighborhood concert in the park. We discuss camping versus glamping, missing pillows in the middle of the night, and how we wish we could "sleep like a husband". Brittany recognizes the importance of getting a little alone time to recharge a bit, and Brandy talks about how important it is to be flexible while traveling with others. Photo by Jonathan Forage on Unsplash You can find us on instagram at theflourishinglife.podcast and on Facebook at The Flourishing Life Podcast We would love to hear from you! Our email address is theflourishinglifepodcast@gmail.com