What if the reason your New Year’s resolutions don’t stick… isn’t lack of discipline — but bad timing?

In this episode of Her Layered Life, I share why I don’t set my goals in January — and why I wait until spring instead.

January has always felt heavy to me. It’s dark. It’s cold. Nature is resting. And yet culturally, we’re expected to reinvent ourselves overnight. That disconnect never felt right.

Instead of forcing change in the middle of winter, I use the first few months of the year for reflection, pruning, and discernment — and then I plant in the spring.

Because growth has seasons.
And so do we.

• Why January feels misaligned for major life overhauls
• The historical and agricultural roots of spring as the true “new year”
• Why 80–90% of resolutions fail
• Reflection vs. reinvention
• Trusting God’s timing in your goals
• The difference between macro goals and micro goals
• What a “God goal” is — and why I believe in them
• The power of choosing a word for your year
• How I create my vision board (yes, including AI images and magnets from IKEA 😅)
• Why clarity creates peace
• Aligning your goals with faith, discernment, and real life

The three words that kept showing up for me this year:

• Simplify
• Temperance (self-mastery)
• Cheerfully

These aren’t trendy buzzwords.
They’re directional.
They become filters for how I live, decide, and grow.

Instead of 20 scattered goals, I choose one goal in six core areas:

• Family
• Personal
• Work
• Spiritual
• Physical
• Coaching

Each has:

• A macro goal (the big vision)
• Micro goals (the dominoes that make it happen)
• A visual representation
• Supporting scriptures or anchoring quotes

Because dreams without systems stay dreams.
But systems without meaning burn us out.

A “God goal” is a goal so big that the only way it happens is with divine help.

I don’t just ask:

Is this a good goal?

I ask:

Is this aligned with God?

Discernment isn’t passive — it’s practiced.
Goal setting becomes one of the most powerful ways to build that spiritual muscle.

• Light returns
• Energy rises
• Momentum builds
• Growth feels natural

By the time spring arrives, I’m not scrambling to decide who I want to be.
I already know.
I’m ready to plant.

You’re not broken.
You’re not behind.
You may just be out of season.

Give yourself permission to:

• Reflect in winter
• Prepare intentionally
• Grow when it’s time

Goals don’t need to be rushed to be powerful.
They need to be rooted.

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who needs permission to slow down and grow differently.

Because her life is layered.
And her influence can change the world.

See you next time. 🌿

What does it look like to rebuild your life from absolute zero—and still choose softness? In this powerful episode, Amanda sits down with Brandi Leifso, founder of Evio Beauty, whose entrepreneurial journey began while she was living in a women’s shelter after leaving an abusive relationship.

Brandi shares how escapism became education, how YouTube tutorials turned into a self-taught crash course in Photoshop, and how she created an entire “fake” product catalog to pre-sell makeup before she ever had inventory. From learning white label manufacturing on Google to navigating a shocking cease-and-desist driven by her ex, Brandi’s story is a masterclass in resilience, agency, and the messy decisions that eventually become “fearless.”

Together, Amanda and Brandi unpack the duality of life—how you can be deeply blessed and still have hard days—and why women supporting women matters beyond the purchase. This conversation goes deeper than business: it’s about choices, consequences, and creating real change through policy, education, and community action.

• Survival is often “one step at a time.” Brandi reframes resilience as focusing on the next right step—even when the full path isn’t visible.
• When you have nothing to lose, motivation changes. Brandi shares how “fire under you” can fuel action, and how success later can create new fear because you do have something to lose.
• Your story can be private—and still powerful. Brandi didn’t share that she was in a shelter at first; she let the mission and product do the talking.
• “You are under no obligation to be who you were five minutes ago.” A defining quote that anchors the entire conversation around growth and identity.
• Giving back is not a marketing angle—it’s the foundation. Evio’s mission has always been rooted in supporting shelters and reducing the impacts of stress and violence on women’s lives.
• Money alone won’t solve domestic violence. Brandi explains why policy, workplace protections, and conversations out loud are essential for lasting change.

• Leaving an abusive relationship and landing in a women’s shelter at 21
• Finding belonging in online communities when she felt isolated in real life
• Teaching herself Photoshop and creating a full product “catalog” without product
• Pitching local boutiques, pre-selling with a 50% deposit, and building cash flow

• Learning manufacturing through Google
• Understanding white label and how it lowered the barrier to entry
• Delivering product in three months—then hitting the next major barrier

• The original brand name: Karma Face Cosmetics
• Receiving a cease and desist after getting into stores
• How her ex filed the trademark and forced her to pull product from shelves
• Rebuilding the company as Evio (Evelyn + Iona) with support from a female partner

• Brandi’s life today in Toronto with her husband and two dogs
• Going fully remote as a team
• Why friendships became a priority (and how they reinforce identity and worth)

In this episode of Her Layered Life, Amanda sits down with Shannon and Ashley, founders of House of Foils, to talk about what it really looks like to disrupt an industry that hasn’t changed in decades.

What started as a simple idea—making salon foils actually fun—turned into a fast-growing brand known for high-performance foils, monthly limited-edition drops, and a community hairstylists genuinely love. Shannon and Ashley share the real story behind building House of Foils: from testing samples behind the chair and shipping orders themselves, to navigating tariffs, cash-flow pressure, and the growing pains of scaling a product-based business.

They open up about partnership dynamics, working in different seasons of life, and why staying in your own lane matters more than watching competitors. Amanda also dives into the power of details—why customers feel connected to brands they can’t quite explain, and how intentional design, storytelling, and community turn everyday products into something meaningful.

This conversation is about more than hair foils. It’s about timing, preparation, creativity, faith, and what happens when women stop competing and start creating.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How House of Foils reimagined a “boring” disposable salon tool
• Starting scrappy, testing products, and learning as you go
• Building demand through storytelling, FOMO, and monthly drops
• Why the details (packaging, notes, experience) matter so much
• Navigating tariffs, cash flow stress, and hard business seasons
• Staying focused while disrupting legacy brands
• Partnership, trust, and building a business that supports real life
• Supporting women-owned businesses and the ripple effect it creates

Favorite takeaways:

• You’re not late—you’re being prepared
• Innovation doesn’t require permission
• Momentum matters—ride it when you have it
• People don’t just buy products, they buy how you make them feel

If you’ve ever felt called to build something different—even in a crowded space—this episode is your reminder that gaps exist for a reason.

If you’ve ever set New Year’s resolutions that didn’t last, this episode is for you—not because you didn’t want it badly enough, but because you may have skipped the most important foundation.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing why morning routines matter, especially for women and mothers whose lives change season to season. I talk about why motivation isn’t reliable, why systems matter more than goals, and how a simple, repeatable morning routine can completely change how you show up for your day.

This isn’t about a perfect or aesthetic routine. It’s about building something sustainable that supports your faith, your family, your work, and the influence you carry.

• Why most New Year’s resolutions fail
• The difference between motivation and systems
• How routines reduce decision fatigue and create momentum
• Why morning routines matter in motherhood and busy seasons
• How to build consistency without perfection

This routine has evolved with me through different seasons of life. I don’t do it perfectly or in the same order every day—but I return to these six things most mornings.

1. Movement / Exercise
I start my day with movement because it wakes up my body and my brain. Exercise gives me energy, clarity, and resilience—not just physical results.

2. Getting Ready
Showering, doing my hair, light makeup, and getting dressed isn’t about vanity—it’s about self-respect. Even if no one else sees me, I see me.
My quick tip: brows, mascara, and a little lip go a long way.

3. Making My Bed
This small habit creates an immediate win. It brings order instead of chaos and builds momentum early in the day.

4. Prayer
Prayer is where I align my will before the world starts pulling on it. I focus my prayers on today—what I need help with right now. It’s not about perfect words, but about making space to listen and be guided.

5. Scripture Study
Scriptures ground me and help me hear the Lord more clearly. This habit started in college and has stayed with me because of the clarity and direction it brings into my day.

6. Journaling
Journaling gives my thoughts somewhere safe to land. I use the Five Minute Journal to practice gratitude, set intentions, write affirmations, and reflect on what I’ve learned—often from my scripture study.

If you don’t have a morning routine, your resolutions don’t have roots. But when you build even a simple routine, everything else becomes more possible—clearer thinking, stronger faith, better habits, and more consistency.

Morning routines work because your brain is most impressionable early in the day. You’re either programming it intentionally or letting chaos do it for you.

If you want this year to be different, start here.
Build a morning routine. Start small. Stay consistent. Layer it over time.

Women are holding so much together—homes, families, businesses, communities, and faith. Morning routines aren’t about productivity. They’re about honoring the weight and beauty of the influence we carry.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to do it perfectly. But you do deserve a beginning that prepares you for the work and purpose ahead of you.

Because her life is layered—and her influence can truly change the world.

In this episode of Her Layered Life, I sit down with Kimber, the founder of Pearl Pop, to talk about the beginning—the quiet season of building that doesn’t always feel impressive, but matters more than we realize.

We talk honestly about what it looks like to start small, to build before anyone is watching, and to trust that growth can still be meaningful even when it feels slow. Kimber shares how Pearl Pop began as a BYU Executive MBA class project, how she and her co-founder hand-poured their very first bottles, and what it’s been like bootstrapping a company as a single mom while learning everything as she goes.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever wondered if what they’re building right now actually matters.

• Why starting small is often the most powerful way to build something sustainable
• Kimber’s journey from Emmy-winning news anchor to single mom to startup founder
• Letting go of perfectionism and learning to move forward with the 80/20 rule
• Why women are not meant to compete—and how community accelerates growth
• A faith-filled reminder that sometimes all it takes is one ice cube

• “Every business that lasts starts small.”
• “Sometimes all it takes is an ice cube.”
• “You don’t have to know how—just start trying.”
• “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
• “God accepts our meager efforts.”

Pearl Pop is redefining oral care with a soft, chewy pearl you chew and brush—designed to make brushing easier, cleaner, and less stressful, especially for kids. What started as a solution to bedtime chaos has grown into something even bigger, helping families create confidence, independence, and better daily routines.

This episode is a reminder that:

• You don’t need all the answers to begin
• Small, consistent steps compound over time
• Faith, community, and courage matter just as much as strategy

If you’re in the beginning—or starting again—I hope this conversation meets you right where you are.

What does it actually take to build a product-based business that can scale, earn retail trust, and stay rooted in purpose?

In today’s conversation, I’m sitting down with Brynn, founder and CEO of Slate Flosser—a design-forward oral care brand rethinking flossing through innovation and sustainability. Brynn shares how Slate went from concept to securing a Target launch, what early prototypes really cost (financially and emotionally), and why leadership growth often starts with asking the questions other people avoid.

This episode is a founder masterclass in product development, fundraising, cash flow reality, and finding peace while building something big.

• Why “just floss” isn’t simple—and the real barrier for kids (and tired parents)
• The moment Brynn realized preventive dental care is a business opportunity and a mission
• What makes Slate different: reusable heads, sonic vibrations, gum sweeps, and a tongue scraper
• The reality of product development: engineering, prototypes, and why iterations are expensive
• Cash flow pressure: the stress behind large POs and waiting months to sell inventory
• How Slate funded growth: from Kickstarter to angel funding rounds
• Why networking changed everything—and how one event led to a Target opportunity
• The leadership shifts required to scale: Who Not How, 10x is Better Than 2x, and building culture
• Support systems that matter: friends, therapy, faith, and asking for help

• “Flossing is more important than brushing.”
• “Iterations cost tons of money.”
• “If you would have told me three years ago where I’d be today, I’d be so proud… today I feel like I’m nowhere.”
• “Everything is already working out.”
• “Grit—and knowing when to quit or pivot.”

Brynn is the founder and CEO of Slate Flosser, an oral care brand focused on creating easier, more effective flossing habits through thoughtfully designed tools. With a background in product design and experience inside a dental practice, Brynn saw firsthand how small daily habits could prevent major (and expensive) health issues—then built a company to make flossing easier to actually stick with.

In this episode of Her Layered Life, Amanda Barker sits down with Kayli of The Nobby Gal to talk about influence as stewardship, not performance. From modest fashion and motherhood to prison ministry and quiet service, Kayli shares what it looks like to live a faith-led, layered life — even when no one is watching.

Kayli shares the early beginnings of her platform, why modest fashion felt natural long before it was mainstream, and how she realized she wasn’t just being watched — she was being listened to. Together, Amanda and Kayli unpack what it truly means to influence with intention, not performance.

The conversation moves into Kayli’s powerful service work, including years spent serving through prison ministry and music, often in spaces where phones, applause, and public recognition are not allowed. Kayli explains how serving in places unseen has grounded her faith, shaped her leadership, and clarified her “why.”

As Kayli prepares to welcome baby number two, she opens up about motherhood, slowing her pace, honoring her body, and redefining success in seasons that feel joyful, messy, and beautifully incomplete. She also shares the boundaries that protect her peace — including her sacred “Mondays at home” — and how stepping away from social media helped her return with clarity.

This episode is a reminder that faith isn’t a category of life — it’s the foundation. That influence can be quiet. And that a meaningful legacy is built brick by brick, not post by post.

00:00 – Welcome to Her Layered Life
02:13 – Introducing Kayli & The Nobby Gal
04:01 – How it all began: mirror selfies & modest fashion
05:12 – Taking a break from social media & why it mattered
07:15 – Growing up modest & finding a missing space online
09:02 – When Kayli realized she was building a community
10:54 – Sharing real life vs. picture-perfect content
11:51 – Discernment, boundaries & knowing what to keep sacred
13:30 – Faith as the foundation of everyday life
16:54 – Prison ministry, music & serving where no one sees
20:25 – Why prisons are some of the most fertile ground for hope
22:10 – Worship behind bars & unforgettable moments
23:42 – Serving without applause & staying grounded
25:48 – Why music reaches where words can’t
28:45 – Pregnancy, motherhood & redefining success
30:03 – Protecting family time & honoring limitations
31:11 – Returning after a six-month social media break
32:02 – Boundaries that protect peace (Mondays at home)
33:30 – The legacy Kayli hopes to leave
35:35 – What “enough” looks like in this season
37:08 – Rapid-fire questions
38:47 – Kayli’s advice for women feeling overwhelmed
40:29 – Closing thoughts & loving every layer of life

• Influence is stewardship, not performance
• Faith is not a compartment — it shapes every decision
• Service without recognition keeps the heart grounded
• Boundaries protect peace and family rhythms
• Success looks different in every season
• You don’t have to document everything for it to matter

• Follow Kayli: @thenobbygal
• Shop & Support Women-Owned: Halftee.com

It’s the Christmas season, and today’s episode is all about light—the light we share, the light we live, and the light we carry into a world that needs it more than ever. I sat down with Tess Frame, a Latter-day Saint content creator and digital missionary whose joyful testimony brings peace and hope to thousands online. Tess is also the CEO + co-founder of Happy Sacrament, a brand that helps families make faith a joyful daily habit (not just a Sunday ritual), and the author of Risen: Bread + Redemption, a beautiful project blending storytelling, symbolism, and faith to invite people closer to Christ.

• Why Tess intentionally pivoted her platform to be openly faith-based (even knowing she’d lose followers)
• The “middle ground” she wanted to create: faith that’s real, rooted, and fun—not “faith-light,” and not overly academic
• How hate comments didn’t shake her testimony—sharing it consistently actually strengthened it
• Staying spiritually grounded in a digitally distracted world (and why boundaries matter)
• A reminder that your algorithm shows you what you engage with—so curate what uplifts you
• Tess’s journey from editorial work to entrepreneurship, social media growth, and building a faith-based brand
• The story behind Risen: how baking bread became a gathering tool, then a powerful metaphor for healing and redemption after hospital trauma
• One of my favorite concepts: the faith, hope, and charity cycle—and why charity is a natural byproduct of coming closer to Christ
• What Tess learned the hard way through recovery, humility, and the Church’s ARP meetings
• Encouragement for anyone who feels a nudge to share their faith but is scared: people will have opinions no matter what—don’t let them matter more than your integrity and your relationship with God

• Sacred doesn’t mean secret. Faith can be shared with reverence and relatability.
• Bearing testimony strengthens testimony. Showing up consistently can deepen discipleship.
• Boundaries protect your purpose. When the phone is a tool for mission, it’s easier to avoid doom-scrolling.
• Your feed is curated by your engagement. Like, share, and interact with what uplifts you—your algorithm will follow.
• God orders our steps. Even painful seasons can become preparation for powerful purpose.
• Women are not an afterthought. Tess’s reminder: you are the “crowning piece of creation”—a literal daughter of God.

What Tess wishes every Christian woman knew about her worth:
You are a literal daughter of the God who created everything—and God remembers, answers, and fulfills promises to His daughters.

If you feel a nudge to share your faith but you’re scared:
People will have opinions no matter what. Don’t let their opinions carry more weight than your integrity—or your relationship with God.

In this Christmas episode of Her Layered Life, I sit down with Amy, founder and CEO of Inherit Co., a Christian-based clothing brand built on modesty, integrity, and joy.

Amy shares how a simple desire to save money on newborn photos turned into a full photography career—and how God used that season to eventually lead her into modest fashion. We talk about what it looks like to build a faith-rooted brand in an industry that often glorifies fast trends, overconsumption, and immodesty, and how she’s learned to protect the rhythm of her life as a wife, mom, and CEO.

If you’ve ever wrestled with calling, motherhood, business, purpose, or modesty, this conversation will make you feel seen and encouraged.

✨ Use HERLAYEREDLIFE for 15% off your first purchase at Halftee.com.

• Amy’s path from photographer to founder
  How shooting her own baby’s photos turned into 37 weddings a year—and the God moment that opened the door to take over a modest clothing company and rebrand it as Inherit Co.
• Rhythm over “balance”
  Why she doesn’t believe in perfect balance and instead builds her life around a core rhythm: sleep, scripture, prayer, church, movement, and then fitting work and creativity around that.
• Motherhood + work without guilt
  How Amy went from imagining herself as a stay-at-home mom of six to realizing God wired her as a leader, builder, and visionary—and that she can be both a devoted mom and a woman who stewards big assignments.
• Modesty as a spectrum
  We talk about how modesty looks different for every woman and every context, why she personally wears skirts and dresses, and how Inherit Co. now serves women who wear everything from skirts to jeans—without shame or legalism.
• Building a faith-rooted brand in a secular industry
  What it feels like to lead with conviction in fashion, resist hook-and-bait marketing, and say no to “easy” profit that compromises integrity or quality.
• Path & Purpose
  How Amy now coaches women through her faith-based coaching brand, helping them uncover the God-given purpose that’s already inside them instead of chasing every new thing.
• Christmas at the Echren home
  Why their family has shifted from piles of gifts to experiences (like Hawaii and Disney), plus the grounding tradition of a shared meal and reading the Bible story together.
• Women, teams, and community
  What it means to run a mostly female team, honor the realities of motherhood (sick kids, maternity leave, schedules), and build a company culture that truly supports women and families.

Follow @inheritco on Instagram and shop at InheritCo.com.

In this Christmas episode of Her Layered Life, I’m sharing the traditions, memories, and shifts that have shaped our family over the years. With eight kids, every season looks different, and I’ve learned that the heart of Christmas isn’t found in matching pajamas or perfect plans—it’s found in connection.

I talk about how our family moved from piles of presents to meaningful experiences, the “one-present rule” that saved my December sanity, and why our St. George trips and Temple Square nights have become anchors in our family story.

Then I bring on Bailee, who shares her family’s sweetest tradition—Christmas Eve video interviews they’ve recorded for over 40 years. After she explains it, she surprises me with my own “interview,” and we walk through my year: travel highs, a record-breaking basketball season, Charlie’s backyard wedding, Halftee’s rebuilding journey, and what God has taught me through it all.

If you’re craving a softer, simpler, more intentional Christmas this year, this episode will feel like an exhale.

This episode is sponsored by Halftee, the perfect modest layering tee. I’m wearing the Ruched Sleeve Halftee under my maxi dress—lightweight coverage without bulk or heat.
Use HERLAYEREDLIFE for 15% off at Halftee.com.

• How our Christmas traditions have changed as our kids have grown
• Why we pivoted to experience-based holidays (yes, including a “ghetto cruise”)
• How simplifying to one meaningful gift made Christmas joyful again
• Our favorite traditions: St. George trips, ping-pong showdowns, and Temple Square lights
• How Bailee’s family interview tradition became a heartfelt episode structure
• My year-in-review: travel to Taiwan, Japan, Greece, Barcelona, Glacier & more
• Our best basketball season yet and the joy (and chaos) of planning a backyard wedding
• Halftee’s rebuilding season and how it strengthened my faith
• The mantra that carried me

• My beloved Halftee balloon pants
• A stronger testimony of Jesus Christ
• A commitment to create, not compare
• Confidence that my journey is uniquely guided