Did you know your skin is the largest organ of the body? Do you know what you're putting on it? This week's guest is blogger, clean beauty advocate, and fitness motivator Tara Butterwick. She breaks down the beauty industry for us, gives some wellness, fitness and beauty tips for women on-the-go, and gets real about her pregnancy journeys. 

Based in Calgary, Tara is one of the Canadian leads for clean beauty leader Beautycounter, a pre- and post-natal fitness specialist, and content creator for Top Knot Mommy, a popular Instagram account and website. We met through Instagram a couple years ago and she got me hooked on Beautycounter's volumizing mascara and inspires me on a daily basis with her dedication to encouraging women's fitness and health. She also loves avocado on toast and ice cream as much as I do, so how could we not be friends?

Connect with Tara on Instagram and via her blog and Beautycounter platforms. 

The book that Tara loves: Leaders eat last 

• Leaders Eat Last (Simon Sinek)

#GetThrifty tips:

• Meal planning for the week. 
• A lot of movement is free! Check out Google for fitness and yoga videos. 
• Invest in beauty and bath products that will last you a long time. Sometimes this means initially spending a little more, but will prove themselves in quality and cost per use.

~

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about. Thanks for listening and see you next week!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

This week's episode features the gorgeous and PR savvy Janelle Saccucci. Janelle opens up about an event that changed her life forever, we get deep into self-reflection and self-care, chat about how marketing has changed, and the importance of being authentic to ourselves.

Also, anyone else remember Britney Spears saying that she used toothpaste to treat a blemish? 

Janelle is a marketing and PR professional based in Calgary, where she focuses on telling brand stories both in her day job and freelance life. Her Instagram feed is gorgeous and always has great content creation and professional tips. We met on Instagram couple years ago and have bonded in person and online over tea, content creation, travel and self-care. She's also a BOSS at networking and you can check out her top 3 networking tips here. 

Connect with Janelle on Instagram  and via her blog janellesaccucci.com. 

The book that Janelle loves:

• The 5 Love Languages (Gary Chapman)

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about. Thanks for listening and see you next week!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

Thank goodness for technology that enables this podcast and allows for keeping in touch with lovely friends all over the world. Like this week's guest, Irish travel-bug and digital marketer Orla Corrigan. We met on Instagram when she was moving to Vancouver a couple years ago, and have been proper friends ever since.

Orla dialled in from Melbourne, where she and her Aussie fiance have moved back to this year. They've lived and worked all over the world, and Orla is your girl for all things travel. We chat about moving countries, building self-confidence, finding your dream job, making friends on Instagram and mama always knowing best. Oh, and apparently gummie bears are called jellies in Australia. 

~

Connect with Orla on Instagram  and via her blog travelorlabout.com. And if you're travelling to Australia, check out YHA Australia for your Aussie accommodation needs!

What Orla's reading:

• City of Girls (Elizabeth Gilbert)

#GetThrifty tips:

• Focus less on the brands
• Do you need or want it?
• Minimalistic living

~

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about. Thanks for listening and see you next week!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

Acupuncturist Mika Ennis drills down the three things you should know about acupuncture -- aside from the fact that it's amazing. (This is also a friendly reminder for you to book those appointments now, before the mad rush of "oh shoot, need to use up my benefits" takes all the open spots with your favourite wellness practitioner!)

Mika and I also chat about going with our gut without worrying and apologizing so much, big career transitions, being Libras and doing the right thing -- even when it's awkward. 

As we are Libras, we got a bit chatty, but that's what this podcast is about, right?

Connect with Mika on Instagram, where she shares the benefits of acupuncture and snippets of her life as a wife, mum and pet lover. If you're in Edmonton, be sure to book an appointment with her.

Books Mika is reading and loves:

• Atomic Habits (James Clear)
• Educated (Tara Westover)

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about. Thanks for listening and see you next week!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

Digging deep into embracing change and finding confidence in the body we have now with Kellie Inglis from Soul Restyled.

Kellie and I chat about body image, dressing the body we have now, going out with rollers in our hair (shout out to Reese Witherspoon's Whiskey in a Teacup and this hilarious Jennifer Garner video!), styling ourselves from the inside out, and needing tissues during a closet clean---because it's way more emotional than you think! 

There was a lot to unpack for both of us in this round of girl talk, so this episode is a little longer than usual.

Connect with Kellie on Instagram and at her website, and be sure to check out her Autumn style tips in the newest issue of I Like Her Style Magazine!

Books Kellie is reading and loves:

• The Good Life (Jesse Dylan)
• Super Attractor (Gabrielle Bernstein)

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about. Thanks for listening!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

This week's guest is photographer Jana Josue-MacLaren. Based in Vancouver, Jana loves to work with natural light and photograph people to create images that communicate their most authentic selves. Knowing from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher, Jana thought her path was very clear. But suffering from burnout created an interesting shift that made following her side-hustle dreams a necessity---and she's rocking it.

We chat about being cluttered, being yourself, career changes, and how you aren't always ready for your own energy. She also shares her tiered morning habits and some advice for budding photographers. The lightning round isn't so lightning, but it's simply because we have the best deep conversations. 

Connect with Jana on Instagram and at her website. 

Books Jana is reading and loves:

• Trick Mirror (Jia Tolentino)
• Big Magic (Elizabeth Gilbert)

If you like what we had to say, please rate and review the episode, so I can continue to curate some girl talk about the things you want and need to know about.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

This week's guest is Meagan Murtonen, one of my lovely friends in Victoria. Meagan is a wedding planner (no, I'm not getting married), florist and lifestyle blogger who moved to Victoria around the same time I did last year---how has a year go by so fast?! We met at a networking event and became friends shortly after that.

We chat about moving cities, money mindset, and the importance of not comparing ourselves to others. And for all the brides out there, she's got some great recommendations for cozy and stylish winter weddings. (Top tip: Don't spend any more time outside in the cold with your flowers than you absolutely need to. It's not good for the blooms!) She's also got some great #GetThrifty tips, and her handsome---but naughty---dog, Oliver makes a couple appearances. (He's the absolute best!)

~

Connect with Meagan on Instagram and at her website. 

Meagan is reading:

• You Are a Badass at Making Money

#GetThrifty tips:

1. Make your meals and have a good spice selection so you can make leftovers a little more interesting!
2. Be mindful of what you can and can't spend. Think about want vs need.

~

Join the City Girl Talks Chatterbox Facebook group so you can let me know what you’d like to hear about! It will also be where I share any special stuff and things coming up on the podcast!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

On another recent lightning-quick trip to Vancouver (to see Elton John!), I had a chance to sit down with real estate dynamo and fellow yogi, Dylan McCansh. Dylan shares her thoughts on rent vs. buy in Vancouver, why female relationships are so important for women, and why she's grateful for her resilience. We also touch on why everything IS figureoutable---thank you Marie Forleo!

A fellow born-and-raised Vancouverite, Dylan is a business owner, avid writer, walker, talker and dog lover. Her story is really inspiring and she's an inspiration for anyone who might be going through a tough time. She's in the process of sourcing a creative outlet in order to share these stories and inspire others to follow suit by sharing their personal stories of resilience.

~

Connect with Dylan on Instagram and at her website. 

Books Dylan loves:

• The Four Agreements
• I will Teach You to Be Rich
• The Glass Castle

#GetThrifty tips:

1. Buy your produce at the little corner markets, not at the big box stores!
2. Write down what you spend your money on and choose what your priorities are---spend money on those things.

~

Join the City Girl Talks Chatterbox Facebook group so you can let me know what you’d like to hear about! It will also be where I share any special stuff and things coming up on the podcast!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

When I was last in Vancouver, I popped into Hervana Coworking Collective to to get some work done, and settled in for some girl talk with Hervana founder, Meredith Garritsen. Hervana is an environment for female entrepreneurs to accelerate their success through community--- and I love to spend time there.

We chatted about building community, NOT keeping up with the cool kids, and learning to be a leader of grace (she tells a fantastic story we can all relate to!). I say "like" more than I'd prefer, Meredith and I both need to get back to Italy, and agree that Paris is the best place... always.

Meredith is currently reading: The Cloud Sketcher

#GetThrifty tips:

1. Quality over quantity when spending your money on clothes and shoes--- and take care of your things!
2. Hervana's Community membership

Connect with Meredith and the Hervana community on Instagram and at hervanavancouver.com. You can also use promo code CITYGIRLTALKS for $5 off any upcoming Hervana networking event.

~

Join the City Girl Talks Chatterbox Facebook group so you can let me know what you'd like to hear about! It will also be where I share any special stuff and things coming up on the podcast!

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.

For this first(!) full episode, I sat down with my lovely friend Emily Kiloh from the podcast Cool Mom 101. Emily is a PR and marketing professional who's worked with brands like lululemon and Eminence Organic Skin Care. A new mom to baby Leo, Emily has her hands full...but that hasn't stopped her from launching a podcast, and continuing to have adventures with family and friends. She’s got great intuition and gives on point insight on staying true to yourself, celebrating accomplishments, and kept it real about new motherhood.

Emily is currently reading: The Chakras Handbook

#GetThrifty tips:

1. Use your library card so you can borrow books and audio books!
2. (For Vancouver peeps) The VPL Inspiration Lab has audio and recording booths - with state of the art equipment - that you can rent for free to record any video or audio projects on a budget.

Connect with Emily on Instagram and at emilykiloh.com. Also be sure to tune in to the Cool Mom 101 podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Stitcher. 

~

This episode is sponsored by Hervana Coworking Collective. Hervana is a shared office environment in downtown Vancouver, also offering workshops, talks and networking events to help women overcome barriers in running their businesses. Hervana believes in the power of sharing knowledge and leveraging a community to uplift women in business and in life --- check them out online at hervanavancouver.com and use promo code CITYGIRLTALKS for $5 off any upcoming networking event.

Did you enjoy this episode? Please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and share your experience at whichever podcast platform you listen from.

Follow the City Girl Talks Podcast on Instagram: https://instagram.com/citygirltalks

Thanks for listening! See you next time for another round of girl talk.