You're probably thinking "what??? Why on earth is she talking about this?"

Well, you'll have to listen to find out.

But in a nutshell, it's about doing what makes you happy without giving a sh*t about what other people might think!

BTW want to follow my friend and nail artist, Liza? Find her on IG @dasnailhaus!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

You know how 90s fashion is making a comeback?

Well, that includes jeans. The tapered leg jeans that I used to hate, and ending up loving, don't seem as "on trend" as they once were, and now wide-leg jeans are slowly starting to creep their way back in just like high-waisted jeans did.

So anyway, I went jean shopping this weekend, and bought some jeans that I didn't love. I didn't HATE them, but I didn't love them. So...jeans that I felt uncomfortable in.

After looking at myself in that terrible, dressing room lighting...and after whipping out my card to pay for those jeans I didn't hate, but didn't love...I realized that sometimes, feeling uncomfortable and moving through the discomfort is how you actually get...drumroll please...comfortable!

So there's no fun "Pretty Woman" montage to accompany this episode, but I hope you give it a listen anyway!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

What do you think when you hear about someone choosing to homeschool their kids?

"Oh - they're THOSE parents."

"I bet their kids are weird."

"What do they do to socialize their kids?"

"What kind of example are they setting for their kids? They're never going to get a REAL job."

Or do you think...

"I wonder why they chose to homeschool..."

"I've been thinking about that too. How did they even know where to start?"

"How do they know what to teach?"

Since March 2020, A LOT in our world has changed. And there are many parents who have chosen to either continue homeschooling their kids, or start homeschooling their kids, once schools re-opened.

There are a number of reasons why parents are going this route, and my guest, Hannah Burlbaw (find her on Instagram @hannahburlbaw), shares her experiences with homeschooling her kids - how and why she and her husband made this decision, how she got started, what she teaches her kids, and why she loves it.

If you're a homeschooling parent, or homeschooling your kids is something you're considering, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Want to learn more about homeschooling? Check out the links below:

Home School Legal Defense Association: https://hslda.org/

Unschooling: https://parentingpassportsandprofits.com/unschooling-curriculum/

Charlotte Mason: https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/

Classical Conversations: https://classicalconversations.com/

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, send a DM to Hannah @hannahburlbaw, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and @hannahburlbaw (if it's this one), and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

How aware of your surroundings are you?

If you walk out of a building at night, do you look around, or are your eyes glued to your phone?

Are your keys out of your bag, or do you spend time fumbling for them when you get to the car?

If you go out for a walk or go running, are you paying attention and listening to what's going on around you?

I know this episode may seem a little different than the others. But I'm all about encouraging and empowering women. And helping to ensure your own safety and the safety of those you love...is pretty damn empowering.

And if I can help encourage you to do that? Cool.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

When you look at your relationships, romantic and otherwise, how do you feel?

Do you feel good? Do you feel safe? Respected? Loved?

What sort of relationships were modeled for you as a kid? What unhealthy behaviors have been romanticized or normalized in our culture?

And if something is unhealthy...maybe even unsafe...do you know what to do? Do you know what options are available to you?

I know this is heavy stuff, but it's also important stuff. And just part of what Kayla and I talk about in this episode.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Domestic Abuse Hotline, available 24/7, at 1.800.799.SAFE. For hearing-impaired assistance, please call 206.518.9361.

You can also reach out to Kayla - even if she's not in your area, she can help connect you to someone who can help. You can find her on Instagram @theselfpartneredtherapist.

If you know someone who may benefit from listening to this episode, please share.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

Are you thinking of that song "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige?

I am too - but that's not what this episode is about.

It's Valentine's Day, so I had to take this opportunity to talk about love. But Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about just the "romantic" aspect.

What if we took this day to put more love into the world, whether we have a "special someone" or not?

The world needs more love. And why not put some more love into it, starting today, courtesy of none other than...YOU?

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

Did you know that there are random acts of kindness that DON'T involve buying someone coffee or dropping off baked goods to your favorite small business? (BTW I encourage both)

Anyhoo...there are so many opportunities to put more kindness out into the world. But many of us overlook them because they don't fit in the "Random Acts of Kindness Box."

I feel like many of us think kindness has to look a certain way, and the thing is - it doesn't.

In this episode, I talk about a recent trip to Target (where I spent more $ than I planned...of course), and how an unfortunate situation for someone else gave me the opportunity to do something kind.

If the world you're observing is anything like the world I observe, it's in need of more kindness. So, I encourage you to have some fun and find an unconventional way to brighten someone's day.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you! (And I actually will!)

Oh - and one last thing! You can share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and I appreciate YOU!

You know that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, right?

I bet you're saying "Um...duh! Of course I know that!" Because...we all know that.

But how do you handle those moments when life keeps throwing you curveball after curveball? Do you get knocked down, or do those curveballs just throw you a bit off balance?

And even if the curveball makes you stumble and fall, are you able to appreciate how beautiful the sky looks when you've been knocked flat on your back?

I know we love certainty in life, and when things are uncertain, we feel like those weeble-wobbles whose primary existence seems to be contingent upon a child's desire to sucker-punch them.

But what if we learned to accept, and maybe even embrace, life's uncertainty?

How do we start doing that, and what would it look like?

If you're curious, then I encourage you to listen to this as you take your morning walk, do your hair and makeup, or drive to work. Or if you're at work and want to put those headphones on to tune out your annoying co-worker (I won't tell), consider listening to this as you do so!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @itsactuallykristi on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @itsactuallykristi and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

What alarms go off when something doesn't seem right, or feel good?

And...do you pay attention to them?

In this episode, I share about an experience I had with my son the latter half of 2022, where I was seeing lots of red flags, feeling uneasy...and I did nothing, until one day, NOT doing anything was NOT an option because my son deserved better.

I realized that I should have trusted myself more - I should have trusted my "Mama's Intuition" - because my son is not some guinea pig whose mental health and well-being I want to gamble with.

Just because we're surviving...it doesn't mean we're OK. And surviving instead of thriving? Definitely NOT OK!

If you already do a great job at trusting your intuition - whether you're a Mama or not - awesome!

If you need a little encouragement, then I encourage you to give this episode a listen.

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

We all know the story of "Rudolph." But do you know the story BEHIND the story of "Rudolph?"

Well, pull up an ice block and lend an ear, and give this a listen.

It's short, I promise. And it may give you a good conversation starter if there are some awkward moments at the family gathering later today!

Merry Christmas, my friend!

Did you love this episode? If so, I want to know! Send me a DM @awakentheextraordinary on Instagram, or send me an email at [email protected].

If you reallllly loved the episode, please "Like It" or "Heart It" or whatever it is you need to do to show the podcast some love on whatever platform you're listening on. And if you leave a review, please let me know so I can personally thank you!

Oh - and one last thing! You can also share whatever episode you're enjoying in your Stories too! If you do, be sure to tag @awakentheextraordinary and I'll re-share!

OK....I think that's it! Thank you SO much for listening - I really DO appreciate it and appreciate YOU!