Bonus: Nova’s Meditations
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
We just wanted to wish you a wonderful Christmas or holiday, and we decided to put together a supercut of all of Nova's meditations, just for fun, because they bring us so much joy. Thank you for being here all year, and we're so excited to keep going into the new year. You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.
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#280: Goals and Vision Boards for 2026
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're sharing our goals for the new year and our process for creating tactile vision boards. We'll get a little woo-woo and share our experiences with manifesting and debating a literary hot take. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at Emma's goals for 2026: Query The Wedding Photographer Write first draft of Sundaes are for Lovers Write first draft of “Icon” Do a quarterly visual art project Cook her way through a cookbook Elsie's goals for 2026: Query The Surrealist (hoping to get a fiction agent and then sell the book)...
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#279: New Year Goals Recap
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're recapping the goals we set for ourselves for 2025, what we accomplished, what we didn't and anything that we're keeping on the list for 2026. We're talking about what makes a good goal and our personal goal setting criteria. We're also sharing our weekly book report and beginning a new segment where we debate listeners hot takes at the end of every episode! The goals we set in our 2025 NY Goal episode: Emma: Get a minivan - No Ambitious food blogging list - Had to pivot in April Pitch cookbook idea - Did pitch but not working on right now Emma’s romance (outline and...
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#278: Favorite Things of 2025
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Get 25% off your first month at Favorite movie: Elsie - Weapons and The Italian Job (1969) Emma - Wicked: For Good Favorite book: Elsie - The Wedding People and 100 Years of Solitude Emma - Lessons in Chemistry, Funny Story, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Favorite purchases: Elsie - Louise Carmen Journal and her kitchen Emma - Lavender Birkenstock Clogs, pastel lime green sweater, blue sweater, scarfs,...
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#277: Comfort Rewatch - The Family Stone
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're doing a Comfort rewatch episode for a holiday movie that we love, The Family Stone from 2005 and we're dedicating this episode to Diane Keaton. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at Try their products and support our show by going to Cozy interiors: Front room with the Christmas tree Entryway Favorite moments: Emma - Love story between Amy and Brad, when the sister can’t get the engagement ring off her finger, and the mom and dad in bed when they show she’s had a mastectomy Elsie - Bar scene, opening scene of...
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#276: Christmas Cookies & Novel Updates
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we are riffing about our favorite Christmas cookies to make every single year, and we're updating you on our novels. So two of our favorite subjects, cookies and novels! Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at Top 3 Christmas Cookies: Emma - , , and Elsie - , , , and Novel Update: Emma - On third draft - still need to have it proofed one more time Elsie - Rewrote entire novel after getting feedback on it You can support us by leaving us a...
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#275: Gift Giving Ideas
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're going to share ideas for putting together advents, unique ideas, low cost or free holiday gift ideas, epic personalized gift ideas and neighborly gift ideas. And we'll also share our book report. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: 40% off your first month at Adult Advent Ideas: Books Lipgloss Hair oil Dutch oven Water bottle Small treats T-shirt Kid Advent Ideas: Reuse old toys Cookies Candy Snacks Creative Gift Ideas: Watercolor post cards Fancy set of watercolors Journal Low Cost (or free): Used book that you loved Pictures Epic...
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#274: Themed Thanksgiving, Pasta Christmas & Other Traditions
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we are talking all about holiday traditions, things we do for Christmas, things we do for Thanksgiving, anything cozy, interesting or quirky. And at the end of the episode, we'll also have a book report. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at Themed Thanksgiving Ideas: Greek Ralph Lauren Polo Bar Indian Dim sum Chinese Mexican Book Report: Elsie - Emma - You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe...
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#273: Italy Recap
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're sharing all the details of our recent trip to Italy, specifically Florence and Venice. If you're planning to travel to one of those places, or if you're in the mood to just travel vicariously through our stories, it's gonna be a big story time episode today. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at . Visit today to get started Florence: What we did : Art museum Combo movie theater/book store Perfume shop What we ate: Cacio e pepe Squash blossom Gnocchi What we bought: Got tiny tattoos Emma -...
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#272: Holiday Bucket List
A Beautiful Mess Podcast
This week we're sharing our holiday seasonal bucket list and how to make your own. If you're like us and you get a little overwhelmed by the long to-do list this time of year, we definitely recommend creating a bucket list to keep the magic in your schedule during the busiest season. Thank you to this week’s sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Try LMNT and support our show by going to . Elsie: Polar Express Cookie baking marathon Christmas movie marathon Be extra thoughtful and creative with gifts Put favorite books in her free...
info_outlineThis week we're sharing our recommendations for a fall reading list, movies to watch and decor ideas to get into the festive spirit. We'll also share design decisions that we regretted.
Thank you to this week’s sponsor:
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Top 3 Fall Books
Emma
- The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
- The October Witches by Jennifer Claessen
- The Wrong Way Home by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Elsie
- Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
- Cackle by Rachel Harrison
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Top 3 Fall Movies
Emma
- Harry Potter
- Twlight
- Knives Out
Elsie (what's playing in my kitchen)
- Hocus Pocus
- Practical Magic
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
BONUS: Horror: Susperia 2018 (remake of 1977) and Funny horror movie: Companion 2025
Top 3 Fall Decor Ideas
Emma
- Halloween bats
- Giant stuffed skeleton
- Spooky village
Elsie
- Asylum for criminally insane women (mirror from Etsy)
- Halloween Lego sets
- Kitchen decor (black ribbon, candles, a jar of candy corn or trail mix)
Listener Request: Have you ever made a design decision you regretted?
Emma - Painted kitchen cabinets a butter yellow color and cooper backsplash
Elsie - Too much shiplap
Book Report:
Elsie - The Raven King Series by Maggie Stiefvater
Emma - Memoirs ****of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
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.