In this final episode focused on physical wellness, we're breaking down the info we got from the pros and are talking about how we make it all work in our regular lives: getting enough exercise no matter what our schedules, eating whole foods and embracing what we can and can't control in our seasons.

Jessica recommends:
No-Bake Healthy Breakfast Cookies
Healthy Banana Bread
Coconut Almond Built Bars
High-Waisted Leggings

Michelle recommends:
Resistance Bands to up your lower-push game!
Eucalyptus Oil - add a few drops to the corner of your shower for a spa-like start to the day!

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

If you are ready for the next steps in your fitness journey - buckle up! This one's a wild ride! Georgia, a personal trainer in Dallas, Texas, and Michelle's little sister, is here dispelling common misconceptions about health and wellness we've all heard. She's teaching us how we can up our games with progressive overload, eating foods that truly fuel our bodies, and drinking a lot more water. Whether you're just getting started, or are ready to push yourself a bit more, this episode has a ton of useful information that we can use as a roadmap for leading healthier lives, starting right now. 

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

Jessica and Michelle are talking this week to Kiley, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, all about how we can incorporate more movement into our daily lives. She has lots of tips for rethinking our approach to exercise, especially if we have been burned by gym and diet culture or unrealistic expectations we've absorbed from the world around us. Her approach to mindful movement will inspire you to try new things, embrace the season you're in, find a meaningful connection to exercise and just get moving!

Find more of Kiley at Pacific Peaks Fitness!

If you're looking for some YouTube inspiration for your next workout, check out these channels:
Kaisa Fit
San Fran Fitness Rebounder (fun on mini trampolines!)
JTM Fit 

And Annie Miller is also a great inspiration. Find her here and here!

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

We're so excited to be back for another year of Pretty Over Perfect! And we're kicking off a month of talking about healthy habits by tackling reflection on the year behind and seeking direction for the year ahead. Whether you are a natural goal setter or not, we believe everyone can benefit from engaging in some critical thinking about where they're at and where they'd like to be, so we dive into the different ways we approach doing just that.

Jessica has been using Sadie Active to work out and likes it! She also referenced this 3 in 30 Episode all about goal setting. 

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

It's been a whole year of Pretty Over Perfect - thank you so much for being here! This week, we're wrapping up the year by reflecting on the highs, lows, struggles and wins of the year behind, as well as a little sneak peek at some of what you can expect from our podcast next year. We'll be back in January with lots of good things we can't wait to share!

Jessica's Favorite Things of 2021:
Emme Diane Skincare
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Blankety
Saranoni Blanket

Michelle's Favorite Things of 2021:
Anything Colorful (Specifically mentioned some colorful coats: fuchsia and cobalt)
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum with Retinol
Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Premium Pink

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

We asked you what your favorite holiday bakes, traditions, music and movies are and now we're sharing them! From Sinterklaas to Buena Noche and Bon Bons, opening gifts one-by-one or all in a frenzy, we crowd-sourced this episode of Christmas goodness!

A few things we mentioned you might want to look into:

Cranberry Lime Pie
Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
Gingerbread Kid Cookie Cutters
Snowflake Cookie Cutters

Merry Christmas!

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

Let’s talk about Christmas… from when and how we’re getting our trees, to traditions we love to keep, meaningful Advent calendars, gift exchanges and more! Plus, what Michelle and Jessica look like in Nutcracker form, how to keep calm this season and the best Christmas music you should be listening to!

If you want to make Advent boxes like we do, here are some links to boxes like the ones we trim as individual tiny presents for the season: cubic and pillow. 

Our episode on gift-giving was referenced multiple times, so in case you missed it, you can check it out here!

Jessica recommends Simply on Purpose’s Gifts of Togetherness for clever ideas for the season (scroll down to find the Christmas bundle and enter your email - it’s worth it) and Michelle reads this book with her family for Advent (though not necessarily intended for Advent, the chapters leading up to the birth of Jesus almost perfectly coincide with the number of days of Advent, with a margin for error because the holidays can get busy).

And finally… our favorite Christmas music! 
You’re going to have to Google these yourselves, we’re not allowed to link them for some reason. 
Leslie Odom, Jr. “Simply Christmas” and “The Christmas Album”
Michael Bible “Christmas”
John Legend “A Legendary Christmas”
Lindsay Sterling “Warmer in the Winter”
David Archuleta “Christmas from the Heart” and “Winter in the Air”

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

Each of us is made up of light and darkness - and by acknowledging and facing the dark parts of us, we can grow to be more empathetic, mature and dare I say... refined. On today's podcast we explore some of our weaknesses and tendencies that lead to our own frustration if we don't figure out why they continually trip us up. Join us as we discuss our go-to negative emotions, least favorite emotions, how we handle conflict and how we allow ourselves the grace to keep trying and growing through it all.

Michelle mentioned this episode from Inc.com on the three paths to a good life:  pleasant experiences, life satisfaction and psychological richness. (Hint: you're going to want to combine all three to get the most out of your time here.)

If you are curious about the Enneagram and learning more about how the best parts of you can also be the worst if not intentionally balanced, there are plenty of resources. Michelle recommended the book, "The Road Back to You," and has also learned a lot from various podcasts, including Jen Hatmaker's series on the Enneagram that begins with this episode. 

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

Relationships shape our lives in many ways - sometimes by encouraging the good in us, and sometimes by showing us the areas we need to grow. We’re talking this week about a variety of relationships and how we’re becoming more refined through and because of them.

Jessica shared this Mirror-Mirror article about relationships and Michelle mentioned the Individualism Index and you can learn more about that here. She also recommended Sebastian Junger’s interview by Oprah where he speaks about individualism vs collectivism and what we can learn about working together. And this song, “Made,” by Spencer Crandall is worth a listen! 

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect

We don’t normally do trigger warnings, but we do want to let you know that this episode is a heavy one. We both share our own experiences of loss and the grief that followed and has undoubtedly shaped our lives and world views. There are lots of tears and even some laughter, because that’s what grief is. We don’t get to choose the suffering that is thrust upon us, but we can choose our reactions to it, and our hope is to encourage anyone going through a hard circumstance to allow themselves to be hopeful enough to emerge better not bitter.

Kate Suddes wrote this article that Michelle mentioned for Huff Post about losing her infant son. 

Come hang out! I can't wait to connect with you! 

@prettyoverperfect