a beautiful mess podcast by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

This week we're sharing our favorite date night ideas including date nights at home and a listener topic about the trend of romanticizing everything.

This week we're sharing the top places we've visited as well as places we thing might be overrated and a listeners hot take on faux plants.

This week we're discussing comfort objects- little things that bring inordinate comfort into our lives. We're also sharing our cozy rituals and ideal way to spend a day.

This week we're sharing what's on our Summer bucket list and discussing a hot take about shoe-free rules in homes.

This week we're discussing Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and taking a quiz on what kind of genius we are. We'll also chat about a listener hot take on whether or not kids should be taught euphanisms.

This week we are joined by our bestie Katie Day who is here to share the five minute practice that changed her life. We'll also discuss a hot take about white tennis shoes.

This week we're getting honest about what it's really like working with family. We've been working together since our early 20s and people always ask how we do it so today we're spilling the tea. We're also discussing what we're reading and a hot take about long vs short books.

This week we're talking about the books that genuinely shifted how we see the world — not just 5 star reads, but the ones that rewired our thinking and books we still find ourselves talking about years later.

This week we're entering a world in which there are no iPhones, no internet, no apps, no online shopping, no social media no steaming and no smart tech of any kind. Yes: We're traveling to a land where you get advice from magazines, information from encylopedias and to speak to someone you must pick up the phone and dial numbers.

This week we're talking about how to develop your creative palette and style without being derivative. This is a subject that applies across different creative practices from art to writing and even how you dress or decorate your home.

In this week's episode we're diving into how to make vision boards and 5 year plans. If you're in the mood to think about your goals and dreams, you're in the right place. We're also answering some listener questions and engaging in a Hot Take Debate about whether romantic comedies are actually the worst.

In this week's episode we're sharing our Spring Bucket List since it's officially the first week of Spring. It's still pretty cold where we live, so a lot of this is wishful thinking, but it's fun to plan things to look forward to. We're also sharing an extra hot Hot Take Debate about kids and iPads.

In this week's episode we're talking about the highs and lows working from home and how we balance our career dreams with raising young children. We've got several great listener questions to cover and we'll share an extra hot Hot Take Debate.

This week, we're talking about mindset shifts that changed our lives. Sometimes, before your life can change, your perspective has to change first. We're also doing a rapid fire hot take debate with a bunch of listener submitted hot takes.

This week we're talking about the inevitable experience of failure and how to hone the skill of starting over. Setbacks can be crushing, but they only turn permanent if you quit. In this episode, we're sharing our own vulnerable failure stories and the things that have helped us to get back on our feet.

This week we're sharing winter comforts that reliably get us through our least favorite season of the year.

This week, we're watching the 1995 classic Empire Records. We're also doing a hot take debate about technological advances, and we're bringing back our segment guilty pleasure treasure.

This week we are discussing core values. We'll share our results from the Values Bridge quiz, as well as our thoughts on how defining core values can improve your life. And in our hot take debate, we're discussing separating art from the artist and rounding it out with whether or not we refrigerate our butter. All the important things that you need to know.

In honor of Emma's 40th birthday, this week we're doing an official midlife crisis episode. Our experiences didn't go exactly like the movies, and we have a lot to discuss. It's going to be fun!

We get a lot of questions from people starting on their very first novel. So in this week's episode, we're giving you all the advice that we wish we could time travel back and give ourselves on the day we started our first novels. There's so much writing advice out there, and no matter who you are, it's not all going to work for you. So in this episode, we'll share things to think about and consider as you plot and plan to begin a draft of your very first novel. And the bottom line is, you can do it, and we are here to cheer you on.

This week we're discussing big and small things we want to learn. This episode is a great space for brainstorming. If you've been thinking that you'd like to pick up a new hobby. We're each discussing five big and small things that we'd like to learn in the near future. And we're also doing a hot take debate on the topic of plastic treat bags at children's birthday parties.

This week we're talking about Elsie's new newsletter, why newsletters are sometimes even better than blogs, and our advice for how to make your newsletter stand out if you're starting your own. We are also going to be debating a listener hot take that's about homeschooling.

This week we're sharing our winter bucket lists (aka how to survive the cold season if you live in a region like we do). We'll also be debating a hot take that personally makes Elsie's blood boil. Let's jump in!

We just wanted to wish you a wonderful Christmas or holiday, and we decided to put together a supercut of all of Nova's meditations, just for fun, because they bring us so much joy. Thank you for being here all year, and we're so excited to keep going into the new year.

This week we're sharing our goals for the new year and our process for creating tactile vision boards. We'll get a little woo-woo and share our experiences with manifesting and debating a literary hot take.

This week we're recapping the goals we set for ourselves for 2025, what we accomplished, what we didn't and anything that we're keeping on the list for 2026. We're talking about what makes a good goal and our personal goal setting criteria. We're also sharing our weekly book report and beginning a new segment where we debate listeners hot takes at the end of every episode!

This week we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried.

This week we're doing a Comfort rewatch episode for a holiday movie that we love, The Family Stone from 2005 and we're dedicating this episode to Diane Keaton.

This week we are riffing about our favorite Christmas cookies to make every single year, and we're updating you on our novels. So two of our favorite subjects, cookies and novels!

This week we're going to share ideas for putting together advents, unique ideas, low cost or free holiday gift ideas, epic personalized gift ideas and neighborly gift ideas. And we'll also share our book report.

This week we are talking all about holiday traditions, things we do for Christmas, things we do for Thanksgiving, anything cozy, interesting or quirky. And at the end of the episode, we'll also have a book report.

This week we're sharing all the details of our recent trip to Italy, specifically Florence and Venice. If you're planning to travel to one of those places, or if you're in the mood to just travel vicariously through our stories, it's gonna be a big story time episode today.

This week we're sharing our holiday seasonal bucket list and how to make your own. If you're like us and you get a little overwhelmed by the long to-do list this time of year, we definitely recommend creating a bucket list to keep the magic in your schedule during the busiest season.

This week we're sharing our stories about how we're changing careers in our thirties and forties. What led us to this point and the logistics of making it happen. If you are in a similar position or dreaming about starting a new career, we hope that this episode will be helpful and encouraging for you.

This week we're sharing the story of how we became influencers and why we decided to retire from it over the past few years. There are so many pros and cons to this career path that we don't hear talked about often enough. In this episode, we'll share our experiences as well as any advice for anyone considering going into influencing.

This week we’re sharing our annual tradition Ghost Story episode. Every year we read listener submitted ghost stories and it’s so much fun. If you’re easily scared, don’t worry most of the stories are typically pretty cute but we’ll give a warning if anything is going to be scary.

This past year Emma and I both spent a significant amount of time off social media after more than fifteen years working professionally as social media influencers and running online businesses. Today we’re going to share what we learned offline including the pros and cons and how we want to approach social media moving forward.

This week we’re sharing tips for cleaning out and curating your closet for fall. We’re also diving into Color Analysis and how it changed the way we shop, tips for collecting vintage and how to make a dream closet mood board.

This week we're sharing our recommendations for a fall reading list, movies to watch and decor ideas to get into the festive spirit. We'll also share design decisions that we regretted.

Today we're gonna share the benefits of being a part of a local book club and creative ideas for starting your own. We get a lot of questions about how to make adult friends and hands down a book club is the best way to get started! At the end of the episode we're also sharing the hills we'd gladly die on.

This week we're dissecting a favorite comfort watch movie for decor and home inspiration. This one is perfect if you need something to get into that autumn mood. This is an ongoing series for us, and this week's selection is Mona Lisa Smile from 2003. We'll also be sharing a book report and our best ideas for freezer meals.

It’s time for a big renovation update. Both the things that have gone well and the things that didn’t go as planned. I’ll also share my tips for renovating a kitchen as a parent to two young kids and what we’re excited to finish next.

This week we’re sharing updates on we’ve been writing AND reading so far in 2025.

We are back for our fall season with weekly episodes beginning with our traditional Autumn Bucket List episode. In this week’s episode we’ll plan our seasonal list of fun things we want to try and do during the upcoming fall season.

This week we’re sharing our lists of comfort things including fragrances, movies, books, snacks and even travel locations. We’ll also share our ideas on memory keeping for those of you who need to print of some photos from your phone.

This week we’re sharing listener questions we collected from a recent survey. Thank you to the more than 1000 of you who took the time to respond to our survey. In this episode we’ll share answers to questions in the categories of business, art and writing, home decor, family lifestyle and unhinged personal questions.

This week we’re sharing the story of our first brick and mortar business including the highlights, the low points, why we ended up closing it up and if we would ever open a local business again.

This week we’re sharing our Summer Bucket List. With the last day of school just a few days away we can’t believe we’re already here. In this episode we’ll share things we’re planning to do this summer as sell as an embarrassing story and an update on Elsie’s remodel.

This week we’re teaching you to become an optimist and convincing you it’s the best way to live life. So get your rose colored glasses ready- this is a topic we’re so obsessed with. It could change your life!

This week we’re sharing a guide for how to antique shop inspired by some questions that Candace, one of our listeners, sent in. We promise you that by the end of this episode you’ll be itching for a flea market run- or at least we will.

This week we’re sharing our Spring Bucket Lists which are filled with things we’d like to do, new traditions and fun goals for the coming season.

This week Elsie is sharing details and progress of her yearlong renovation including what she’s doing and how she’s hoping it will improve her daily life in her home. Plus- for our longtime listeners- Elsie has a potentially surprising update on the whole "Forever Home" label.

This week we're answering listener questions about how to write your first novel. We're sharing everything we learned in the process that we wish we could tell ourselves on day one!

Today we're sharing a deep dive on how to start over. If you're in a rut, whether in your personal life or career, we're going to share tips for starting fresh!

This week we are making our winter bucket list together. So pull out a sheet of paper and let’s make some fun goals to bring us comfort and joy during our least favorite season of the year.

This week we are time traveling back to 2013 for a rewatch of the movie, About Time starring Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson. This beautiful film checks all the boxes for us - it’s cozy, it’s sci-fiction, it’s romantic. So if you haven’t seen it or it’s been a long time, we are going to convince you to rewatch this movie.

We’re two sisters obsessed with reading! If you’re not a fiction reader yet, in this episode we’ll do our best to convince you to join the dark side with us. If you already are then you are going to get so many book recommendations from this episode.

Today we have something pretty special. Recently we had our girls trip with a couple of friends, including Elise Cripe, who we often refer to as our third sister. So Elise decided to get off social media over a year ago and we wanted to know EVERYTHING!!

This week we’re prepping for the new year with a goal setting episode! We’re recapping how our 2024 goals went and sharing some goals we have for 2025. If you are still considering your new year goals we hope this episode encourages you to dream big for 2025!

This week we’re doing a rewatch episode of the 2003 Holiday classic Love, Actually. It’s one of the all time best! We’ll also share some of our holiday traditions that we’re doing this year.

This week Elsie is sharing a personal topic as she’s about to complete her first completely sober year! This is something Elsie was curious to try for years and she learned a lot from the experience. She’s excited to share the ups and downs as well as the books she read and a pep talk for anyone considering a similar goal in the future.

This week we're discussing the ICONIC 1997 movie- The Fifth Element starring Bruce Willis and Milla Jovavich.

This week we're diving into the topic of Core Values. We loved the exercise of thinking of our values as a person, a small business and also for our families.

This week we're talking about closet clean outs and curating a closet that's perfect for you. This is a journey we've both been on for a while and we're so excited to share what we've learned and tips for making your own closet fit your current lifestyle perfectly.

A few years back we did two episodes on our evangelical upbringing and how it has affected the rest of our lives. Even though this isn’t our usual content, it’s a subject we are very passionate about. In this episode we are sharing how we are raising our own kids, advice for anyone who needs to heal, and our experiences coexisting with people we disagree with.

This week we are back with our annual ghost stories episodes. We will also chat about Halloween decor, parties, costumes - all things spooky.

We’re back with a new season!! Today we are spending this episode catching you up on what we did this summer, Emma’s new baby, and what we are excited about for fall.

This episode is such a fun one for us- we’re going through and making our own A Beautiful Mess Criterion Collection. Movies bring us so much joy and we love highlighting them here. This also gives us a chance to talk about some movies we love that don’t fall into the “comfort rewatch” for one reason or another. We’ve honestly been looking forward to recording this episode for like six months!

This week we’re responding to a listener question (hi Share) from a listener who is expecting her first child soon. This will be a parenting episode full of little parenting stories and our tips including naming, gear, self care and you know we love a pep talk.

This week Elsie is excited to share all about her new art era. If you didn’t know she started the baby steps toward a professional art career this year and she is so excited to share more details with you today! This is something Elsie has dreamed of and has been working toward in one way or another since childhood. One of the themes we LOVE to go back to over and over on this podcast is setting goals and achieving dreams.

Today we are rewatching the 1965 movie, The Sound of Music directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews.

Back in April of 2020 we did an episode about our life bucket lists so today we are giving you an update on them. This topic was requested from listener Kelsey Ebling.

Today we are discussing our experience with Created Colorful, which teaches you what colors look best on you.

Today we are doing a deep dive into rugs. We are talking about everything from knowing the right rug for your space to actually keeping them clean especially from when you have pets.

Today we are rewatching Mamma Mia! And Mamma Mia? Here We go Again, starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried

Let’s talk about food! 2 years ago we did a cooking episode and a lot has changed since then so we are updating our list of favorite things to cook.

A lot of you tell us that you listen to the podcast with your sister so today we are answering questions about our relationship as sisters. Plus we are doing our book report on The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi.

Today we are doing a deep dive into collecting art. Everything from where we purchase art, framing and how to decide what art pieces will work for your space.

Today we are rewatching the 1998 movie, Ever After, directed by Andy Tennant and starring Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston.

Easter is this Sunday so we are talking about our Easter traditions and how we celebrate. Plus we are sharing our guilty pleasure treasures.

Spring starts this week so it’s time for our annual spring bucket lists. Plus we have our book report on with The Only One Left by Riley Sager.

We have gotten tons of questions regarding buying furniture for your house like how do you know what will work best in your room or what fabrics are the most durable. So today we are deep diving into all things buying furniture.

Today we are rewatching the 1991 movie Hook, starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman and directed by Steven Spielberg.

Who doesn’t want to bring more joy in their lives? This week we are talking about all the little things in life that bring us so much joy. Plus we are doing our book report on The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston.

This week we are answering your questions all about Nova’s meditations, printing art, and publishing a book.

This week we're doing an episode that has been requested for years, and Elsie is finally feel ready to share it. This is Elsie's adoption story episode. She is going to share the story of how she ended up adopting two children from China.

This week we're dissecting a favorite comfort watch movie for decor and home inspiration. This is an ongoing series for us, and this week's selection Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- although we’re really talking about all 8 movies and the books.

This week we are sharing our experiences as social media influencers from the past ten years. We’re sharing how we grew our Instagram, How we earned money influencing, our tips for anyone who wants to get into social media influencing and lastly- why we are taking a bit of a pause from it in 2024.

Many of you have noticed that our blog has really changed in the past year and this week we are going to share everything about why we’ve made some pivots and how we began growing our website traffic after TEN YEARS of not growing. This episode is both really business oriented and really personal to us as humans. We’re definitely spilling all the tea for ABM.

The weather is cold outside so this week we are discussing our favorite winter things. Everything from activities, food, and clothing.

It’s that time of year where everyone is setting goals. Today we are going over our goals for last year and what new ones we are setting for 2024. Plus we are sharing our winter book club picks.

2023 is coming to an end so today we are discussing our favorite things from this past year. Plus we are doing our book report Feel Something, Make Something by Caitlin Metz.

You're listening to the A Beautiful Mess podcast, your cozy comfort listen. Today we are rewatching The Holiday, directed by Nancy Myers and starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet.

The holiday season is upon us and we are watching one of the best Christmas movies, Home Alone. Directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macaulay Culkin.

Thanksgiving is next week so we are letting you in on all our Thanksgiving favorites.

Today we are answering your questions all about the upcoming holiday season.

The gift giving season is upon on us and it can be so hard to figure out what to get someone. Don’t worry, we got you covered. Plus we are doing our book report on All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers.

Tomorrow is Halloween so it’s time for some spooky ghost stories. We have gone through all your submissions and here are some of our favorites.

I am sharing this special bonus episode with you today because my novel, Handmade Murder, is available. Hooray! You have no idea how much excitement and anxiety I have living inside me right now as I type those words. I wanted to create a mini bonus episode for our podcast listeners so they could be the first to know. :) And I'm sharing all the details and links I have, as well as reading Chapter 1 in the episode.

This week we are rewatching Elsie’s favorite Halloween movie, Rosemary’s Baby, directed by Roman Polanski and starring Mia Farrow.