Pretty Over Perfect

Whether you’re primarily an Upholder (loves a to-do list), Obliger (rises to the occasion for others), Rebel (desires freedom) or Questioner (loves to know how things work), we’ve got tips for maintaining systems - for you and the people living in your home with you! 

Home are ecosystems with many different tendencies in play. Understanding how everyone responds to expectations can help us set up and maintain systems that help us love each other, and love each other well! 

Resources:

The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin 

Video Interviews with Each Tendency 

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

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

@prettyoverperfect

Last episode you cleaned out your closet, now its time to figure out what really "feels like you" by learning about your energy type and how you can best dress to support your natural flow in the world!

Based on Carol Tuttle's Dress Your Truth program, this episode will walk you through 4 energy types and how to dress accordingly - colors, silhouettes, shapes, patterns and types of fabrics.

Plus! Which Disney characters are which energy type - just for fun!

Another episode on building a wardrobe that's perfect for you!

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

@prettyoverperfect

You Need a System - for figuring out your signature style and containing that closet chaos! Well, we've got one for you! 

Let's look at your current wardrobe as your many micro-attempts at defining your style. You've bought things here and there over years thinking, "Maybe this is me." Well, now we're going to look through all those choices and figure out what really is YOU!

We've got a method for meaningfully sorting through your clothes, evaluating and understanding what you truly like and merchandising your wardrobe (to make it the best place for you to shop every morning). 

References:

Episodes about Defining Your Style: Creating a Signature Style  and Curating a Fabulous Wardrobe for Who You Are Right Now

Our favorite website for understanding and dressing for your body type is The Concept Wardrobe.

Words to Describe Your Wardrobe - Pick 3-5 to inspire you - or write your own!

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

@prettyoverperfect

What is a Drop Zone - well, any place you tend to drop stuff in your house. We all have them, so let's solve them! We're figuring out how to tackle the ongoing clutter of Drop Zones - mail, sentimental items, kids' clutter, returns to be made, and ongoing projects. 

And a Go Zone - ideally helps you get out the door smoothly. This is a one-stop shop for your keys, wallet, backpack or diaper bag and snacks to get through the day!

Drop Zone Organizers We Love

How to unsubscribe from junk mail and credit card offers.  (Takes about 5 minutes on two different forms.)

Did you know you can get your documents shredded at UPS for $1/pound - or less if you have a lot! Just take it to your local UPS store. 

Waterproof, Fireproof Document Bag paired with Simple File Folders

Magazine Holders for keeping kids' artwork until it is transferred to their Art Binders

Decorative Flip Top Box for kids' personal art and keepsake collections (available in every color and decor theme under the sun to match their rooms!)

Go Zones Organizers We Love

Command Hooks

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

@prettyoverperfect

Michelle brings our editor (and her husband) to answer listener questions about Kitchen Systems. 

Tune in to find out how to tackle that kitchen mess at the end of a long day, how to zone your fridge and what to do about leftovers! 

Click here to learn how to preheat your stainless steel pans to make them nonstick! 

These Brightroom Organizers can be confined to keep the space under your sink from becoming a black hole!  

Or this one! 

I also like these clear bings for stacking storage! 

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

@prettyoverperfect

We're beginning a new Spring Cleaning series all about how systems help us tackle everything in the home that needs our time and attention. When we create a system for how things get used and maintained, we are give ourselves the gift of a smoothly operating home, as well as more free time to pursue our work, hobbies and dream lifestyle.

We're starting with the kitchen - the heart of the home - with a few systems in place we can make this area run efficiently, making meal times, mornings and clean up easier for everybody.

Plus! 7 Tips for running your kitchen like a pro!

Some kitchen items we recommend:

Trash-Can Pull Out for Bottom Mount Kitchen Cabinet

Boot Tray - for boots or corralling crumbs and spills. 

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

@prettyoverperfect

The countdown to competition day has begun! Jessica breaks down her decision to compete in the Mrs. Utah pageant and tells us all the things going into her preparation. Jessica also shares her platform: The Mom Refresh Movement - all about empowering overwhelmed moms to regain their sparkle through simple and doable habits centered around Fuel, Rest, Editing, Sparkle and Help. 

To subscribe to the MomLetter and get weekly tips and ideas for self-care in motherhood, click here! 

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

@prettyoverperfect

Today we're discussing Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies - an idea she puts forth about how people tend to react to both inner and outer expectations, whether they readily meet them or tend to resist. As with any method of categorizing how people approach the world, we find this helpful for understanding how we (and the people we love) end up in the same situations over and over again. 

The Four Tendencies are 

• The Upholder, who readily meets inner and outer expectations, but has a hard time letting themselves off the hook for anything (even when it makes sense to do so)
• The Obliger, who readily meets outer expectations, but may struggle to stick to goals they've set for themselves
• The Rebel, who questions both inner and outer expectations and may have a hard time being accountable to anyone
• The Questioner, who wants to thoroughly investigate any outer expectation before making it an inner one, which they will often stick to

We need all of these approaches to the world to make it go round. We each rely on the other strengths to smooth over our weaknesses and vice versa. 

To find out your tendency, take the quiz here.

To read a quick overview of the book, check out this summary by Alex Chen. 

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

@prettyoverperfect

For Valentine’s Day, we’re talking all about connecting with our nearest and dearest, our broader communities and even perfect strangers. 

Michelle recommends “Gratitude Journal for Teens Girls and Moms” and this article: “The problem with donating our dopamine to our phones, not our friends” by Tonya Mosley.

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

@prettyoverperfect

We’re big fans of a family meeting: a once-a-week time set aside for discussing everything the family needs. It can be practical, philosophical and everything in between. Whether you start by lighting candles, making waffles or flopping on the couch, it’s a great place for the family to work through conflict in a less-emotional state, build character skills, set intentions and work out the kinks of daily life. It can be as formal or as informal as you’d like - and there’s only one prerequisite - that you do it! 

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

@prettyoverperfect