Good Vibes Sunday

Our #goodvibesunday guest this week is James Shelby.

James is a real estate agent based out of Temecula California, he’s a master at branding himself, he’s built an amazing team that’s ready to take care of all client’s real estate needs, and has he’s become a huge inspiration to Adam and I. Most people would think that realtors don’t support other realtors, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that there is enough of a market share out there for all of those who work their tails off to get after it. And surrounding ourselves with other like-minded folks is what Adam and I live for, James is definitely one of those people. We love watching him and his sweet girls through Instagram and enjoy the thrill of getting to know how his life practices propel him upward in business. Today we talk all about these practices, we probe into business, mindset, and dig deep into the impact meditation, gratitude, and affirmations have had in his life.

Our #goodvibesunday guest this week is an interior designer and friend, Whittney Parkinson. Inheriting a passion for design and architecture from her father, an architect, she discovered her life’s purpose early on. Growing up in the midwest, she combined her educational background in art and interior design to establish her company Whittney Parkinson Design in Indiana. From new build construction to whole home renovations Whittney and her team have clients covered. If you see a space layered with modern and traditional styles, and a symphony of dusty hues, that most likely is our girl Whittney. We would describe her spaces as a fusion between sophisticated and timeless, but also functional and meant to be lived in.

In the design-Instagram world, Whittney is best known for a kitchen she designed that went viral. I’ll personally say that I’ve never seen quite cabinets like the ones she used in this kitchen. She really knocked it out of the park you guys ( See Image Below ). That was when the instagram community took notice of her work, however Whittney has been designing incredible spaces for years and continues to leave us all in awe of her potential.

When she’s not designing, she’s enjoying her days with her husband Austin and her sweet girl Wren.

As beautiful as her designs are she has a soul to match. Today we get to highlight it. I’m blessed to know Whittney and call her a friend, my intention is for all of you is to get to know the inspiration behind all her beautiful work, the reality of being a mama and wife running a business, what her advice is for new designers; but as always it’s Good Vibes Sunday so we dig a little deeper about the pressures that come from social media, and what kind of impact that has on designers. We also, get real about marriage, family and so much more.

I have to say out of all my #candidsundays , this one by far defines candid more than any I’ve done. I talk all about the highs and lows we all deal with, how this period of my life is really testing me and how it has all affected my mood. I also get raw about how overdoing is catching up to me and affecting my relationships.

Since I’ve started Good Vibes Sunday, our listener base has grown substantially. I was thinking the other day how I wish some of my new listeners could gain some insights from some of my favorite past episodes. Exactly one year ago I created the episode 12 Steps To Make Your Home A Sanctuary, and today I resurface that one. By now you all know that I live a holistic style of life and I bring the practices into fruition in my home. This episode is all about creating homes that serve our family and our souls.

How do you feel when you walk into your home? Happy? Calm? Overwhelmed by your 'to do' list? Or are you like me who used to feel anxious about wanting everything in my home to look perfect and untouched? In today's hectic world stress is always present, but your home shouldn't contribute to it. "Your home either nurtures and supports you or it depletes your energy and leaves you exhausted," says interior designer, conscious living expert and founder and CEO of Home and Harmony Lifestyle, Christa O'Leary. "In today's frenetic world it is more important than ever to create a calm and peaceful space that allows you to recharge."

Our Good Vibes Sunday Guest this week is Jason Motte. He’s a recently retired baseball player and founder of The Jason Motte Foundation. He started his career as a catcher then switched over to pitching. He’s played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves. He says that baseball was what he did and although he loved the game, it wasn’t who he was. His true purpose is to be of service through his and his wife Caitlin’s foundation. They’ve teamed up with 108 Stitches, a sports apparel company, to come up with a line that stands for striking out cancer. There is one ambassador for each team in major league baseball who helps bring awareness to cancer.

The seed for the Jason Motte Foundation was planted in the fall of 2010 when Jason and Caitlin Motte asked, “what can we do to help?” At the time, Caitlin’s grandfather, Lynn Doyle, was a cancer patient at The West Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. Jason and Caitlin saw a sign that mentioned a need for blankets and wondered what more they could do to help. That question led to the formation of the Strike Out Cancer with Jason Motte Foundation and several projects including the annual Strike Out Cancer with Jason Motte.

The Motte family uses the money raised towards research all while providing comfort and care where there is a need for those affected, either directly or indirectly, by cancers of all kinds.

So many people avoid talking about heavy subjects like cancer, but what if for once we stop trying to pretend like it doesn’t exist? What if we open that dialog and learn from cancer? I heard this quote once, “ When you learn how to die, you’ll learn how to live.” Which translates to the question “ If you were told you had one month to live would you spend it complaining or doing something meaningful?”

 Today we talk to Jason about his foundation but as always it’s good vibes Sunday so we dive a little deeper into the idea that we can learn how to live purposeful lives through the lens of cancer. Jason explains that although money, status, and fame are all blessings and signposts along the way,they aren’t the answer behind fulfilling our lives purpose on earth. That when cancer strikes, none of those things matter. I don’t think we could have had a better guest on to help us bring in the holidays and fill our hearts and minds with perceptive

On today’s #candidsunday I talk all about something Adam and I are going through in this chapter of our lives, and that most people go through at some point in their lives, judgment. Everyone has either judged or been judged, today we dive deep into the reasons people point fingers and throw stones. We go further in by revealing our personal experiences with judgment to support the idea that people who judge come from a place of lack. Even more so that the lacking begins within, and is defined by not enough confidence, self-love, courage and so on. We also juggle with the reasons why those closest to us, family and friends, judge us when we most need their support.

Our #goodvibesguest this week is Brandi Milloy. Brandi is a TV Host, Producer, Food Reporter, and a Lifestyle/Parenting Expert. Fans have come to rely on her popular blog ( brandimilloy.com ) for easy pantry staple meals and crowd-pleasing recipes. You may recognize her from starring in the new Food Network series: “Let’s Eat” where, along with her co-hosts Chef Stuart O’Keeffe and Jamika Pessoa, she shares her favorite delicious and easy to make at home recipes. She’s also is best known for the YouTube series POPSUGAR Food: Eat the Trend and Get the Dish with Brandi Milloy. On a regular, Brandi brings her expertise to the Today Show as a contributor. She has also appeared on Cooking Channel's Eat. This. Now. and Food Network's Guy's Grocery Games, Food Network Star and Chopped Junior. When this new mom isn’t food reporting, cooking/baking or hosting backyard bbq's with family and friends, Brandi is enjoying life in Los Angeles with her daughter Milly (@LittleAmazing) and her husband Chris (@MrAMeals).

Today we probe at Brandi’s mind about food and it’s connection to the soul. We also talk all about parenting and marriage; but as always it’s Good Vibes Sunday so we dig a little deeper and get her thoughts on a recurring situation where strangers come up to her sweet girl Milly and comment on her weight but not without squeezing or touching her. To quote Brandi after her most recent incident where a stranger came up and commented on Milly in front of a little girl who understood, “ I hate the idea that the thought of weight is even going through our girl’s minds and receiving comments about their bodies. This creates a culture of other people commenting on others body’s when it’s none of their business. It’s not a healthy way to speak to each other. I don’t believe every person who comments means ill will but they do need to be responsible for what comes out of their mouth.” - Brandi Milloy

She says that we are responsible for who we show up as in our lives, and that our words are contagious to those around us. Today Brandi shares an insight into her life and the practices that empower her to show up as the best version of herself for her daughter and her husband.

Our Good Vibes Sunday guest this week is Joel Contreras. Joel is a real estate agent turned developer and interior designer based out of Phoenix AZ. Adam and I first discovered him on instagram through a friend’s profile. Being modern architecture fanatics, we instantly were mesmerized by Joel’s modern designs. However we became even more impressed when we realized that he was doing in Phoenix, exactly what Adam and I have planned to do in our hometown here in Cali. That is transforming neglected homes by preserving the architectural integrity and melding it into modern additions and finishes; all while keeping a sustainable budget. In a nutshell, this guy has created a design movement in his city and continues to shift the paradigm. Design can sometimes feel unrealistic to middle class america, but Joel proves that with proper education and an eye for design, everyone can own a one of a kind home. It’s no wonder that he’s caught the attention of publishers such as Dwell Magazine, Phoenix Home & Garden and more. Today we probe at Joel’s mind and discuss what inspires him, how he got his start, his wife’s life changing experience with cancer, his advice for aspiring designers and developers and so much more.

Last time I did a Candid Sunday, I talked about how I felt as though I was drifting through life and I discussed the reasons I thought I was feeling that way. I explained that I was doing more than I was being, that is being in the moment, giving myself time and love. During this time a question I kept going back to was “ Why am I not aware of listening to what the universe is telling me?” ; if I was feeling so out of alignment what was I supposed to stop and pay attention to? What complaints was I having? I know for sure that one of them was that I wanted to feel as though more was happening for us faster. But why is it that everytime we try to listen to god and the universe, when we blatantly see the signs and we know what they mean, why is that we place judgment on them because they don’t necessarily fit our plan? Or feel good?

We’re so good at saying If it doesn’t go as I planned well it must be bad, if it’s uncomfortable it must not be teaching me anything. What I’ve come to realize is that maybe if it’s uncomfortable that’s because it’s pushing us, maybe if it doesn’t go as planned that’s because we are not surrendering to the power that is higher than us, and maybe just maybe, if it doesn’t feel good because it’s expanding us.

Three years ago tomorrow, marks the day I lost my mother figure to cancer. I’ve proclaimed this day, many times on Good Vibes Sunday, as the the reset button. Better yet, it was the best and worst day of my life. It was the day my entire life would take an unexpected change forever. How can death be the best day and worst day of anyone’s life you ask? It was the worst day because the pain that comes from losing a mother so early on is unlike anything anyone should have to endure. However, although it wasn’t clear to me at the time, I now know it was also the best day of my life because my foundation was revealed and I didn’t like what I saw. I learned that times of crisis reveal the foundations our lives sit on, and after her passing I began to discover how to rebuild mine. I wanted a solid foundation, I wanted one that could last through any crisis and I wanted one built on love. As god would have it, it wasn’t a one and done, the journey began the day of her death and carries me through each day. Today I stand on higher ground because of her, her life and her death taught me more about myself than I ever dreamt could be possible. On today’s Good Vibes Sunday I recap the episode I recorded this time last year in attempt to surface my journey.