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.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

https://thevaluesbridge.com/

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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!

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess

Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

Guilty Pleasure Treasure:

Emma: Cinnamon dragons

Elsie: Watch a period piece while on period

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

You can try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home

Tips for new writers:

Give yourself a writing assignment

Just write your first novel

Immerse don't tell

Read

Get really comfort drafting unpolished

Be a joyful student

Invest a lot of time in ideation

Learn about the business of publishing

Your writing routine matters

Resources:

Show Don't Tell by Sandra Greth

Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Write your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell

The Author's Publishing Playbook by Carly Watters

https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Start saving money with Dupe.com today

Go to brooklynbedding.com and use my promo code MESS at checkout to get 30% off sitewide

5 Things we want to learn

Emma:

1. Learn Spanish
2. Play piano
3. Learn to write microfiction
4. Cooking and recipes
5. Painting

Elsie:

1. Water Marbling
2. Writing poetry
3. Classical painting lessons
4. Make 3 Ina Garten recipes
5. Book binding

Book Report:

Emma - The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria

Elsie - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Head to Talkiatry.com/mess and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes.

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm

Check out Elsie's newsletter: https://www.elsielarson.com/

Check out Elise's newsletter: https://www.elisejoy.com/

What will the newsletter be:

Cozy

Curious

Photos of crafts and things she's making

Stories and essays

Life updates

Entertaining

What the newsletter won't be:

Writing DIYs

Not written by AI

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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!

Check out https://ramonamuselambert.com

Emma

1. Always have a candle burning and always make tea with dinner
2. Organize library room
3. Go room by room and clean and organize all the closets and cabinets in her home
4. Work through reading all of her craft book stash
5. Bake herself a birthday cake

Elsie

1. Declutter year - eliminate ALL the clutter in her home
2. Paints are always out this time of year
3. Old movie bucket list
4. Start a new photography era
5. Thrifting and flea markets (going more frequently this year)

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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.

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

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.

Thank you to this week's sponsor:

Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/abeautifulmess

Emma's goals for 2026:

• Query The Wedding Photographer
• Write first draft of Sundaes are for Lovers
• Write first draft of "Icon"
• Do a quarterly visual art project
• Cook her way through a cookbook

Elsie's goals for 2026:

• Query The Surrealist (hoping to get a fiction agent and then sell the book)
• Complete "Project Lighthouse"
• Launch my weekly newsletter: The Lost Arts - sign up at elsielarson.com
• Be active on social media (have a professional relationship with it)
• A lot of small goals like create mini routines, take photos every day, get nails done, read 52 books and go on walks

You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com

Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.