A lot has happened over the last week and this is what we’re going to share with you in this episode. Lots of updates on what’s happening, the struggles and bumps we’ve gone through, updates on the ranch, future plans and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
We’ve realized so many things, but the most important one of all is that these challenges just make us better and stronger everyday.
“Each challenge has come with a reward. It doesn’t just add things that we have to do, it changes our priorities.”
“At the end of the day, everything works out. It’s like the growing pains of a human. I think because we’re pushing and growing, we’re learning and maybe even making a deeper belief that is what we go through and when things happen that stop us or derail us, we get stronger for it. The grounds get better, we get better, and at the end of the day, what a great problem to have. Because 2 years ago we wouldn’t have these problems because we didn’t have this opportunity.”
Here is the link to the glamping place we talked about.
Welcome to our first podcast episode on the ranch! We’re husband and wife and embarking on a new journey here on the Happy Hour Podcast.
We’re completely starting over from scratch on this podcast. It’s on this space that we want to share with you what’s happening at our ranch, the world, business, life, and all that stuff. We talk about our journey, have some laughs, and maybe we'll all learn a lil something along the way too.
In this episode, we give you an update on the progress of our retreat center in Texas, how we got to this point, and the challenges and wins we’ve had along the way.
"There's such an immense feeling of peace when you’re on the property… It’s nothing like we envisioned as far as our retirement plan but it’s everything I wanted and more now. I love the work on the property, I love the physical work of it, I love being in the property, I love even the challenges and mistakes because we’re learning some shit that we’ve never would’ve learned before.”- Shannon
“We bought a 46-acre ranch in Texas and we are in the process of building out a retreat center on most of the land… I thought we’d just share our story of how we got to this point and the challenges along the way.”
Learn more at www.theretreatranch.com
Children coming out to parents about being gay isn’t always an easy thing. While some are okay with it, there will always be others who are opposed to the idea.
But like it or not, there is always a possibility that your child may be gay and this is what we want to share in our episode today.
Our very special guest is my 18-year-old daughter Nyla. She will be sharing her experience with you on how it was for her to come out to us, her parents, as well as to other family members and friends. She also shares her journey from how she knew to now that she’s living with her girlfriend.
If you are a parent, Nyla also shares her thoughts on how to approach talking to children about the topic. It’s a super informative episode that will touch and open your minds and hearts.
This week on my Happy Hour podcast I am celebrating 100 episodes! This is a huge milestone and I am so grateful for the support over the last 3 years. I am taking a few weeks break as I work on new content and shows for season 3- AND coming back with two new members of the Happy Hour team!
Help me to welcome Stefanie and Angie (you may remember them from episodes 97 and 99)!
A lil about Stefanie- she is a momma of two beautiful kiddos and lives in Newport Beach California with her husband and family. She is a nurse and is also certified as a birth and postpartum doula. She is also a beautiful yoga instructor and she brings a passionate and healing touch to all that she does. Learn more about Stefanie here.
A lil about Angie- is a momma to two cute as hell dogs and a cranky but adorable cat. She lives in Savannah Georgia with her fiancé. She is a lawyer and brings a feisty and determined attitude to all she does and is an incredible lawyer that fights for her clients and firm. She is also starting her yoga teacher training as she is passionate about learning and growing.
Also in this episode I revisit my ask regarding the division that quarantine/masks/pandemic is causing- and how our own behaviors are making us sick (or susceptible at best). You can also read the full blog post here.
Man, how are you feeling right now? A couple friends and I have a chat on my podcast this week and talk about how quarantine is going.
Warning: we are slap happy at times, pissed at other times, and just ridiculous at other times.
Would love to hear how your quarantine is going. What are you doing during this time that is working and what is just not working?
One thing that helps me, is to plan for something yummy in the future. Like my yoga & wine beach retreat happening this October. Also finding fun and creative ways to connect with people now has really helped. Like my virtual alignment retreat happening in June.
Would love to know what you are planning or doing during this time?
So excited to be with Dee again today as we talk about something that landed powerfully on us both. Glennon's new book- Untamed.
This book has so many life/soul lessons that land perfectly albeit challenging in this season of life.
Join Dee and I as we chat about aspects of this book that resonated with us and share with us if you have read it and what you think!
I had a blast recently with some of my closest friends as we shared our quarantine experiences during our 'virtual happy hour'. We talked all about what is just shitty and what is working (and we are appreciating) during this quarantined time.
Some of our observations may align with some of yours, or perhaps you could share your experience during quarantine with us too!
How many times in the last five years (hell the last decade) have you said "I don't have time for that" or "I wish I had time to do.."? I am thinking that if we had $1 for every time we said it (or thought it) we would be quite wealthy right now.
Guess what? We now have time. And it is a great way to make this quarantine meaningful.
In my podcast today my good friend Kim, creator of Project Mindful Movement, joins me and we discuss how this quarantine has opened up so many opportunities- if we look and are open to them.
Read the full blog here.
We’re all familiar with the IVs you get in the hospital that has been used for decades. But did you know that IV therapy offers many benefits outside the hospital? Today, you can get them in a boutique type of setting. You can even get them through a house call. People who get IV therapy say it makes them feel so much better. Typical uses are:
There are also drawbacks of IV therapy. Tune in to find out more and check out the full details at https://mindbodycomplete.com/is-iv-therapy-for-you/
Hey guys! I am over the moon excited to share this talk with you that I had with my dear friend Sue. Long ago, Sue and I shared kick-butt workout sessions at 5 AM in my garage before I moved to California. I miss her so much and am so happy to share her knowledge with you today.
Sue is a nurse practitioner who has been treating women for over 20 years. She’s worked in family practice, the ER/ICU, oncology, cardiopulmonary, and OB/GYN. I think one of the things that really sets her apart from other health care providers is that she really listens to patients and pieces together a total wellness picture based on lifestyle along with science.
I thought it would be interesting to find out what are the top three concerns that women bring to her from a physician’s point of view. Then I’d like to share the top three I’ve observed as a mental health professional.
Check out the full blog here: https://mindbodycomplete.com/the-top-3-issues…lly-and-mentally/
This episode of the Happy Hour Podcast is one that will leave you in awe of the compassion and love of Bonnie & Mark Barnes and her family and the DAISY Foundation. I’ve heard their story many times, and I still get chills each time I listen to it. So cozy up, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and be blessed by her story of loss, compassion, and triumph.
Read the full blog at: https://mindbodycomplete.com/when-grief-bloom…-compassion-hope/
Right now, for many, losing weight is #1 on their list of New Years resolutions. And, right now, intermittent fasting is a 'hot trend' that many are looking at (or actually using) to lose weight. I myself have been intermittent fasting for almost 16 months and have had some incredible benefits, along with a few struggles. Tune in to find out about my journey as well as all the amazing benefits...IF it is right for you!
Thanks to our sponsor, Activated Faith.
Check out the full blog post here.
So excited! On today's show my friend Heather Hakes shares the secret to lasting success...which is perfect timing! January is historically THE month for goals and ambitions- but by the end of February most have puttered out.
How can you prevent this?
Tune in to find out!
Learn more about Heather here. And thanks to our sponsor, Activated Faith.
Read the entire blog about this show here.
I am so exited to be recording with Dee today as we talk about what 2019 has taught us- and the crazy journeys traveled all year.
Find the blog post here- and join the convo with us!
Thank you to our sponsor, Activated Faith.
Tune into today's show to find tips & strategies to be ok when things are not ok. To feel good and aligned when expectations are not met. To be ok with not being ok.
With special guest Kim DeMoss we talk struggles and reality with focusing on the wrong things vs. the present situation.
Find out more here.
Thanks to our sponsor, Activated Faith Candles.
In today's Happy Hour Podcast show, my good friend Stefanieand I talked about the different approaches to viewing parenting as a mother.
One type of mother will celebrate and connect with other mothers, regardless if their parenting styles match.
Another type of mother will criticize or compare with other mothers, regardless if their parenting styles match.
What type of mother are you (or do you want to be)?
In today's show we also talk about what to do in grief, how to connect, and the importance of finding your village and loving them hard.
Join us in the convo!
Welcome to season 3! In this show my husband and I talk bout the epidemic (trend?) of feeling sick. This is in no way saying that there aren’t terrible illnesses and tragedies in the world- only that there is a significant increase in those of us feeling ‘sick’ and sadly- more women are being affected than men (or at least reported). Int this show we talk about the two approaches to healing: language and empathy.
Tune and find out more here.
Thank you to our sponsor, Activated Faith Candles.
Happy Hour listeners! We are going to go through a big change; and could use your help. Take a listen to this short message and then shoot us an email at shannon@mindbodycomplete.com to give us your thoughts!
Thank you for the honor of hosting this show for the last two years. I look forward to some exciting adventures together soon!
Shannon
Alcoholism. Anorexia. A long list of challenges to overcome. Today's show is with Casey May Griswald, in which she shares her story of overcoming severe challenges to find meaning and self worth. Dee met Casey in their nine-month Kundalini teacher training program, and Dee was inspired by Casey’s authenticity in sharing her story. Join in the convo!
We are in an age where sarcasm is where we hide. We project our tiredness, our busyness, our unhappiness, our stress- on our shirts, mugs, cars, social media and our homes. Doing this only compounds what you don't want- it confirms the very things you are complaining about. It is time to take responsibility for our environment and our lives.
Thank you to our sponsor: www.activatedfaithcandles.com
We love to hear from our listeners when they leave reviews, but we also love to hear what issues and questions they’re dealing with. Recently, we got this note from one of our listeners:
“My daughter is 8 and is struggling with a girl in her class. I would love a podcast about raising girls in this day and age. I try my damndest to give her the tools to ignore the mean girls and be a leader... I would love to hear other bad ass women talk about raising nice, kind, and authentic girls.”
Check out the conversation we had with our guest, Rachel Weinstock, on this topic. For more info check out the full blog post here.
Thank you to our sponsor Activated Faith Candles.
About our guest:
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and a Bachelor of Education. In addition, she has spent over a decade studying public speaking, storytelling, improvisational acting, red-nose clowning, dance, and life-coaching.
Rachel has been teaching both locally and Internationally for 15 years+ and was awarded the James W. Fair Leadership award from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She is known as “Miss Rainbow Fairy” because of her alternative approach to education.
Her talks are deeply impactful because of her lived experience of being bullied from Grade One to the end of high school. When asked why she became a teacher, Rachel says, “I wanted to become the teacher I needed most when I was a child.” She has now dedicated her life to empowering other teachers and parents with the tools they need to create a safe and empowering space for EVERY child. Find out more about Rachel at
http://www.rachelweinstock.com
Book discussed
Single? Married? Rock the season you are in! Often times we look to others and fantasy the grass is greener. In order to be happy in a relationship- one must just be happy. Join the convo today as we talk about rocking the season you are in regardless of single, married or otherwise.
Find out more at mindbodycomplete.com/rocktheseason
In today's show we talk about meditation! The myths, the benefits and some how to's. Join the convo and please - leave us a review!
Find out more at mindbodycomplete.com/meditation101
Our thoughts are not our identity. Our thoughts can be changed. But frequently negative thoughts hijack our life. Many people let these thoughts take over their identity, their daily experiences, their joy -- all without embracing the basic premise that we have the ability to change our thoughts. Tune into today's show to learn how to take back the control and restructure your thoughts!
From our sponsor: www.activatedfaithcandles.com
More info on:
More on this show: https://mindbodycomplete.com/how-to-restructure-your-thoughts/
It is possible to reduce stress and increase productivity by decluttering! Research backs this up! The Journal of Current Psychology has published studies showing the negative impacts of clutter. It causes “life dissatisfaction” and can “negatively impact our mental wellbeing”. Clutter also increases cortisol, the stress hormone, and is linked to greater procrastination (anyone else feel like putting shit off cause there is just too much crap around? If not, me either, was just asking for a friend…).
In this podcast, we discuss the concept of decluttering. Dee really embraces the de-cluttered life. She says, “I’m by no means a minimalist, but I really try to not accumulate stuff.” She continues to explain that the research is so true in her life: “I agree with all those facts - and I feel it tenfold! I feel the negative impacts so strongly, that it’s practically debilitating to me. If I can’t find an outfit, and I make my closet a huge mess, I literally cannot go to sleep until it’s cleaned up. If there are a lot of things around - in my car, desk, whatever! - it feels cloudy and heavy in my thoughts and body.”
But, how do we effectively declutter? I have three kids and a dog living at home. Our schedule is packed- as I am sure everyone’s is. At times in the past, I wouldn’t handle it the best way... I would go on a “cleaning rampage” against my family trying to get them to clean up with my big black trash bags in tow. But in recent years I have been using a strategy that works well for me. It was partially adapted by Marie Kondo’s method. Check out her books: The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up as well as Spark Joy: An Illustrated Masterclass on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up. But many of you have already heard of her from her new Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.
Like Marie, I think it’s important to touch every item when debating whether to keep it. We need to feel its energy, and then discern if it is serving us meaningfully. I used to do this room by room, item by item. But Kondo preaches going category by category, and I have started to prefer that technique. Here are her categories:
You may need to adapt these categories to work for you. Kitchen and garage are part of the miscellaneous category, and that can encompass a lot. Or if maybe you keep a lot of holiday decorations, you could create your own category for that. Another blogger created a thorough PDF of what’s in Marie Kondo’s categories if you want more detail.
My process works like this: working in a certain category, I am armed with two large bags: one for trash, and one for donations. Then, with each item, I ask myself three questions.
If I answer no to these questions, then it is time to part with the items - with no hesitation! Dee says that even though she reduces clutter as much as possible, her storage closets tend to hold these types of unused items, like extra backup shampoo for the backup shampoo (does anyone else do this?). Using my process (or one like it) prevents the clutter, the build up and the unnecessary STUFF.
How to say goodbye... especially to gifts and expensive items
When you decide to let something go, I do a similar process as Marie. I have to touch every item in order appreciate the items for the energy they brought and to impart appreciation for the joy it once brought me. This feeling of gratitude makes it a more harmonious process.
I think this “gratitude farewell” especially works for items that were gifts. It really is okay to let a gift go if it isn’t used or doesn’t bring joy. Say “thank you” and express gratitude for the love that was expressed in giving the gift, but then LET. IT. GO. Trust that by donating it to someone else, it can find a new home where it can be loved. Even if it cannot be donated, know that you are making room in yourself and your home to more deeply appreciate what’s left, and give yourself that gift.
Price, too, is something that holds us back from parting ways. We keep things because they were ‘expensive’, and we sometimes especially keep them if we have buyers remorse. But keeping these belongings, and the guilt that comes with them, really isn’t healthy or productive. If cost is holding you back from replacing something you actively dislike, consider finding a consignment shop or listing it on Craigslist.
When Nathan and I got married, we each had our own houses and needed to consolidate. Whether it was a sofa or a painting that I wanted to part with, he would always bring up the price: “Do you know how expensive that was?!” But my philosophy is that the flow of money is okay. What you spent at that time helped the economy, someone’s job, someone’s business, etc. And, most of the time, that item served you when you needed it. When circumstances change, as they always do in life, it’s good to reevaluate whether that painting, sofa, or anything else is still supporting your lifestyle and bringing you joy.
For another example, I was holding onto fancy suits from my life in corporate. But it’s been 14 years! For a while, those memories of high-powered meetings brought me joy and I kept those suits, wondering if I may need them again. But when I looked at them more recently, I knew I didn’t need to hold onto them anymore. Rather than be guilty about “losing” the money I spent on them, I decided to be joyous about what those suits offered me during that phase, and deeply grateful for all the clothes I now wear in a different lifestyle I really love.
Making decluttering a habit, especially with kids
Maybe now it’s a standard lesson for teaching kids, but it’s one that Dee remembers well from her childhood. Whenever they brought new items into their home or wardrobe, they needed to part with an equal number of items. Today for Dee, that lesson has held, especially with clothes shopping. If she comes home with shopping bags, she finds an equal number of clothes to donate.
In my house, we do that same “purge” following Christmas. I’ll admit, my kids are a bit spoiled! My girls got new toys for gifts, and then we took the time to put some old toys in a giveaway bag as well. In Episode 1 of Tidying Up, even toddlers were “folding” with their parents, and learning those important lessons.
Ultimately, every family member should be respected about the items they wish to keep, if it truly sparks joy for them. Decisions about what to keep are personal; they are about listening to the voice within. But parents can set their kids up for success by prompting them to do this process and especially by teaching through example.
A note on gender roles
Those studies from Current Psychology also indicated that clutter can “negatively impact our mental wellbeing,” particularly for women. Perhaps this is because in studies women still report doing more chores. I think we still see this trend where women may feel more of a burden, both logistically and emotionally, for maintaining a home. Even the Netflix series showed many women in married relationships who seemed to feel more of that pressure, which USA Today pointed out in their take on the show.
One mom featured in episode 3 of Tidying Up teared up at not meeting her own and society’s expectations for creating a home for her family. Progress came the most when her husband and two pre-teen children not only took responsibility for their own spaces and belongings, but also contributed to the family overall. The husband said he had never cooked, but at the end of the process, he proudly mentioned making a salad, and his wife said with gratitude that he picked up the dry cleaning and folded the laundry. At the end of Episode 1, the married father with two toddlers said that by doing laundry and dishes alongside his wife, they were able to share moments from their day, enjoy the time together, and most importantly feel closer as a couple.
Ultimately, for shared spaces like kitchens and living rooms, every family member should buy into the decluttering process, play their role in maintaining it, and contribute meaningfully in the space.
The takeaway (plus resources)
Whatever method you choose, having a clean and organized life has so many benefits. (You can also check out our earlier episode with Laura, our fung shui expert!) I have a free PDF you can get HERE with my 3x5 method: three simple questions for five categories.
The energy flows better in our life without all the crap and junk we no longer need or use. A de-cluttered life really can bring you peace and positivity!