#278: Favorite Things of 2025

This week we're recapping our favorite things from the past year, including movies, books, purchases, favorite memories and new things that we tried. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Get 25% off your first month at Ritual.com/ABM Favorite movie: Elsie - Weapons and The Italian Job (1969) Emma - Wicked: For Good Favorite book: Elsie - The Wedding People and 100 Years of Solitude Emma - Lessons in Chemistry, Funny Story, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Favorite purchases: Elsie - Louise Carmen Journal and her kitchen Emma - Lavender Birkenstock Clogs, pastel lime green sweater, blue sweater, scarfs, and new tattoo Favorite memory: Elsie - Going to italy Emma - Hugo walking and going to Italy Favorite new thing you tried: Elsie - Water color painting Emma - eyeglasses and eating raw fish/sushi Favorite candle: Elsie - Walmart Fresh Cut Frazier Emma - Bath and Body Works Leaves, Burlap Bag, and Thistle Farms 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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at oneskin.co Try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess   Cozy interiors: Front room with the Christmas tree Entryway   Favorite moments: Emma - Love story between Amy and Brad, when the sister can't get the engagement ring off her finger, and the mom and dad in bed when they show she's had a mastectomy Elsie - Bar scene, opening scene of Diane Keaton looking at Christmas tree, Judy Garland scene, and when she spills the egg mixture on the floor   Moment you cringed the hardest: Emma - From the beginning when they are really mean to Meredith Elsie - When he goes for her sister   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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!   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/abm Try OneSkin with 15% off using code MESS at oneskin.co   Top 3 Christmas Cookies: Emma - Butter cookies, Snowball cookies, Peanut butter Blossoms, and Puppy chow Elsie - Sugar cookies, Gingerbread cookies, Thumbprint cookies, and Oreo truffles   Novel Update: Emma - On third draft - still need to have it proofed one more time Elsie - Rewrote entire novel after getting feedback on it   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: 40% off your first month at Ritual.com/ABM   Adult Advent Ideas: Books Lipgloss Hair oil Dutch oven Water bottle Small treats T-shirt   Kid Advent Ideas: Reuse old toys Cookies Candy Snacks   Creative Gift Ideas: Watercolor post cards Fancy set of watercolors Journal   Low Cost (or free): Used book that you loved Pictures   Epic personalized gift ideas: Leather bound of their fave book CD player with CDs Record player with records Go on Etsy Jewerly Recipe engraved on cutting board Quilts Fancy food Snow outfit (for kids) Art   Neighborly gifts: Teachers - Have kids make cards with picture and money inside Jar of baking ingredients Free library   Book report Elsie: Piranesi by Suzanna Clark Emma: Apprentice to a Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/abm For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at oneskin.co   Themed Thanksgiving Ideas: Greek Ralph Lauren Polo Bar Indian Dim sum Chinese Mexican   Book Report: Elsie - Audition by Katie Kitamura Emma - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Alma Cuervo   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: For a limited time, you can try OneSkin with 15% off using code [MESS] at oneskin.co. Visit GrowTherapy.com/MESS today to get started   Florence: What we did : Art museum Combo movie theater/book store Perfume shop What we ate: Cacio e pepe Squash blossom Gnocchi What we bought: Got tiny tattoos Emma - silk scarf, stove-top espresso maker charm necklace Elsie - moth and butterfly platter, Italian translation of The Secret History, 3 toys for Oscar, marbled journal, tiny marbled books for kids   Venice: What we did: Canals Peggy Guggenheim collection Gondola tour What we ate: Pizza Pasta Sign up for Elise's newsletter at elisejoy.com   Book report Elsie: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico Emma: Secret History by Donna Tartt   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/abm Try LMNT and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess.   Elsie: Polar Express Cookie baking marathon Christmas movie marathon Be extra thoughtful and creative with gifts Put favorite books in her free library   Emma: Polar Express Sunday night dinner and treats Make Hugo's first hair ornament Holiday Movie Night Take Oscar to paint pottery   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Visit GrowTherapy.com/MESS today to get started.   When approaching your second act: Give yourself every bit of training you would give your kid Invest in your education Form a business plan in phases Interview other people who are doing what you want to do Start small   How to find support during this time in life: Find groups of people doing the same thing Talking to a therapist   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: You can try OneSkin with 15% off using code "MESS" at oneskin.co.   Pros of influencing: Working with favorite brands Getting paid to craft Pairs well with other jobs   Cons of influencing: Mean comments Risky career Not a steady paycheck   Tips for being an influencer: Think of your business like a table - it needs a lot of legs to stand up right Invest your money Build something you can keep later Have a newsletter   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.  

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.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: You can try OneSkin with 15% off using code "MESS" at oneskin.co.   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 [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.