For the Ell of It with Ellie Topinka

Today I am talking with the one, the only, one of my very best friends, Tiffany McCloud. Tiffany and I have been throughout a lot of seasons of life together and so far my favorite is motherhood. However our motherhood experiences are different and will continue to be because not only is she raising girls and I have a boy ( so far at least) but she is also raising two bi-racial children. Today we talk about how different it has been for her compared to her first daughter, what has been hard, what she wants people to know and more.

I really hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. I truly love learning about other peoples views and life experiences, especially when they are different from my own. Tiffany is navigating motherhood so beautifully and I couldn’t be more proud of her.  Race is such a tough subject and unforunately is not always handled in the best ways. But if we continue to educate ourselves and others, we MAY be able to make this world a little more accepting and inclusive.

Be sure to Follow @forthellofit on instagram for behind the scenes, episode highlights and more. And if you haven’t already, be sure to rate and review the show on whatever platform you listen on.

As always, thanks for being here.

XOXO Ell

Today I am excited to share my friend Calynne Cooley with you all. Calynne is closing in on a year of being sober and her and I talk about her relationship with alcohol, what ultimately pushed her to become sober and how life is now.

To say I am proud of Calynne would be an understatement. Tackling an addiction head on is no small feat and the way she is navigating and living her life now is beautiful to see. I think this is a relly important conversation and I'm thankful for her honesty and vulnerability.

I have included a couple of the resources Calynne discussed below if you want to learn more. If you loved this episode It would mean a lot to me if you would share it on socials or with family and friends! And if you haven’t already be sure to rate and review the show on whatever platform you listen on.

As always, thanks for being here friends,

xoxo Ell

LINKS

Today we are talking with my older sister Trisha. With the holiday season quickly approaching I thought a fun way to get us all in the festive mood is by discussing holiday traditions. We talk Halloween, Thanksgiving and my favorite… Christmas. Whether you love the holidays or not, whether you have kids or not... I think this is a fun episode full of nostalgia and holiday magic. Having holiday traditions are a great way to bond and love on your family, friends and community. Hopefully this episode will inspire you to do just that!

If you aren't already be sure to follow @forthellofit on Instagram for behind the scenes, episode highlights and more!

As always, thanks for being here friends!

xoxo Ell

Today’s guest is Charissa Ostrom. Charissa’s story is one that has had a profound impact on me for many reasons. Her, her husband Blake, and her daughter Evelyn have overcome more in the last three years than many do in a lifetime and have done it with grace, determination, and a strong faith. I am in awe of Charissa's determination to conquer cancer, advocate for and protect her daughter Evelyn and strength to find the good in every day. She is truly a light and I’m grateful to know her and to have heard her story.

If you loved this episode be sure to share it with a friend or on socials - maybe we as a community can spread some of Charissa’s light to those that need it. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow @fortheellofit on Instagram for behind the scenes, episode insights and more. As always thanks for being here friends!

XOXO, Ell

Today we are talking with my sweet husband Jordan again. If you’ve been listening for awhile you remember him from Season 1 where we talked about marriage after kids.. but today we are diving into just MARRIAGE. We just had our 5 year wedding anniversary, so we are reflecting on what we have learned, what we are hoping to work on and answered some tough questions that were submitted on Instagram by listeners. Like I say in the episode we are NOT marriage experts but we have found that listening and learning from others is a great way to grow as individuals and in our marriage. If you’re married, about to get married, or hoping to be married one day I hope this episode shed some light on topics and ideas for you and your partner to explore deeper.

If you’re not already be sure to follow @fortheellofit on Instagram for behind the scenes and episode highlights and be sure to rate and review the show on whatever platform you’re listening. As always friends, thank you for being here,

XOXO Ell

Today I am talking to my dear friend Jen Johnston about her experience with divorce and starting to date again in her 30’s. It’s a great and honest conversation that I think we can all learn something from. We discuss how going through divorce she really found herself and since then has continued to put in the work to be the best version of herself, FOR herself. I really appreciated Jen’s vulnerability, humility and honesty about her experiences around marriage, divorce and now dating. It’s not an easy thing, and no one WANTS it to happen, but hearing Jen’s story sheds so much light on the topic for me and if you know someone who could benefit from this conversation please share it! I couldn’t be more proud to know and love her.

If you’re not already, be sure to follow @fortheellofit on Instagram and be sure to rate and review the show on whatever platform you listen so we can continue to grow this beautiful community. As always, thanks for being here friends.

Today I will not have a guest and it will likely be a shorter episode but it’s my kids 2nd birthday today - happy birthday Chandler bug! - and this week has been wild, but nonetheless I hope you enjoy it. I’m gong to be chatting or ranting, depending on how you look at it all about the pressure to be perfect… Now I am going to be talking from a female’s perspective as I am a female but I do think this feeling applies to men in a lot of ways too- just differently than women. 

I discuss the different ways I have felt the pressure to be perfect throughout the years and how I now am fighting against those pressures.

If you enjoy this episode it would mean a lot to me for you to rate and review the show on whatever platform you're listening! And be sure to follow @fortheellofit on Instagram for behind the scenes, episode insights and more.

As always, thanks for being here friends, I'll see you next week!

XOXO Ell

August Sponsor

This month’s podcast sponsor - Just Between Friends Grand Rapids. If you know me well, you know I LOVE to thrift shop. Just Between Friends is a twice-a-year kids mega consignment sale where local families can save hundreds of dollars (and make hundreds of dollars) on everything they need to raise confident, stylish, good-looking kids! Families sell items they’ve outgrown and buy items they need at 50-90% off retail. Shoppers can stop running around to garage sales, have failed meetups and get everything they need for the next 6 months—all in one clean, safe, organized space! And after the sale, unsold items can be donated to local West Michigan charities. So everyone in the community wins.  The average seller made over $500 in the last sale, join them and turn your unused children’s clutter into cash.  They have consignor coaches who can help you along the way and a Facebook group that is super supportive. For more information and to purchase your tickets for the sale, visit ⁠www.grandrapids.jbfsale.com⁠

Today I am talking to one of my dearest friends, Drew Cooley. We are both moms of funny and silly toddler boys and in today’s conversation we discuss all the things we said we would never do as moms, but now 100% do… We're the best parents before we had kids right? Even if you don’t have kids, I think this is such a funny and honest conversation about motherhood, expectations, real life and more.

If you haven't already be sure to rate and review the show on whatever platform you listen on! This is the best way for this community to grow and it makes my day! Also follow @fortheellofit on Instagram for behind the scenes, episode insights and more.

As always, thanks for being here friends.

XOXO Ell

August Sponsor

This month’s podcast sponsor - Just Between Friends Grand Rapids. If you know me well, you know I LOVE to thrift shop. Just Between Friends is a twice-a-year kids mega consignment sale where local families can save hundreds of dollars (and make hundreds of dollars) on everything they need to raise confident, stylish, good-looking kids! Families sell items they’ve outgrown and buy items they need at 50-90% off retail. Shoppers can stop running around to garage sales, have failed meetups and get everything they need for the next 6 months—all in one clean, safe, organized space! And after the sale, unsold items can be donated to local West Michigan charities. So everyone in the community wins.  The average seller made over $500 in the last sale, join them and turn your unused children’s clutter into cash.  They have consignor coaches who can help you along the way and a Facebook group that is super supportive. For more information and to purchase your tickets for the sale, visit ⁠www.grandrapids.jbfsale.com⁠

If you know me well, you know I LOVE a home project. I love rearranging rooms, redecorating and coming up with new house projects much to my husbands dismay. So I am so excited to introduce you to my new friends Kalyn Barrett of @midmimomdiy. Kalyn has been renovating her builder grade house into a modern farmhouse home. She’s a busy, working mom and learning the ins and outs of power tools, paint and more, one budget-friendly DIY at a time! I love Kalyn’s can do attitude and her willingness to learn as she goes. Be sure to follow her and her DIY journey at @midmimomdiy on Instagram. If you love all things home and DIY.. this episode is for you!

XOXO Ell

LINKS

This month’s podcast sponsor - Just Between Friends Grand Rapids. If you know me well, you know I LOVE to thrift shop. Just Between Friends is a twice-a-year kids mega consignment sale where local families can save hundreds of dollars (and make hundreds of dollars) on everything they need to raise confident, stylish, good-looking kids! Families sell items they’ve outgrown and buy items they need at 50-90% off retail. Shoppers can stop running around to garage sales, have failed meetups and get everything they need for the next 6 months—all in one clean, safe, organized space! And after the sale, unsold items can be donated to local West Michigan charities. So everyone in the community wins.  The average seller made over $500 in the last sale, join them and turn your unused children’s clutter into cash.  They have consignor coaches who can help you along the way and a Facebook group that is super supportive. For more information and to purchase your tickets for the sale, visit ⁠www.grandrapids.jbfsale.com⁠